Talent Alert: Experts available for interview on CSIRO GenCost Final 2025-26 Report
Climate Media Centre
Wednesday 15 July
For immediate release.
CSIRO’s Final 2025-26 GenCost report, released today, has once again confirmed that renewables are the fastest and lowest-cost way to replace Australia’s ageing and unreliable coal power stations and cut climate pollution.
Right now, data centre development is moving at break-neck speed, with 162 data centres operating and more than 90 new projects in the pipeline. Without better regulatory guardrails, data centres risk delaying our shift to what CSIRO has found is the lowest cost generation mix- wind and solar. We can't risk that happening. The data centre industry’s electricity demand over the next five years is set to triple. If we are to avoid more climate pollution and soaring energy prices, governments need to step in and mandate that data centres underwrite their own additional renewable energy sources.
Australia’s leading science agency has once again squarely ruled out nuclear power from any cost effective scenarios for achieving net zero. The report makes it clear that any calls for data centres to be powered by nuclear energy, are calls to condemn Australians to pay higher power bills. Nuclear energy has been roundly rejected by Australian voters time and time again, and it cannot solve the energy challenges we have today. Data centres are being built right now, and even if nuclear was a cost effective option, which it isn’t, it would take at least 15 years to get a nuclear reactor up and running in Australia , unlike solar and batteries which are available right now.
Australia needs more renewables backed by storage now, so they are online before more coal is retired. Accelerating the rollout of renewable energy is the only way to keep energy bills as low as possible, while ensuring grid stability and cutting climate pollution.
The below experts are available to speak to renewable energy being the lowest-cost and fastest way to power Australia’s new energy generation.
To arrange interviews, please contact:
Gabrielle Platt on 0493 442 307 or [email protected]
Stephanie Bashir, Founder and Principal at Nexa Advisory
Stephanie Bashir has expertise across the energy value chain in technical, commercial, strategic, policy and advisory capacities. She previously led the policy vision and strategy at AGL Energy as Senior Director of Public Policy.
Location: Melbourne
Tim Buckley, Founder and Director at Climate Energy Finance.
Tim Buckley is a respected energy market analyst, with more than 30 years’ experience in Australian and international financial markets. Climate Energy Finance (CEF) is a non-partisan think tank established in 2022 that works pro bono in the public interest on accelerating decarbonisation in line with climate science.
Location: Sydney
Simon Currie, Co-founder and Chief Projects Officer of Energy Estate
Energy Estate develops large-scale energy and infrastructure projects and ecosystems in Australia and globally. Energy Estate Digital is developing data cable networks between Australia and New Zealand and key global hubs designed to support the growth of the AI economy and connect global hubs with new regions with access to abundant land, energy and water resources.
Location: Sydney
Johanna Bowyer, lead analyst for Australian electricity at Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)
Johanna Bowyer is an expert on trends in the National Electricity Market, energy policy, and energy market finance. Johanna previously worked at CSIRO, Solar Analytics and Suntech and as a management consultant at Kearney.
Location: Sydney
Jay Gordon, Energy Finance Analyst, Australian Electricity at Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)
Jay Gordon has experience in modeling Australia’s energy system transition. Jay previously led Climateworks Centre’s energy system modelling capabilities. This included collaborating with the CSIRO on several landmark whole-of-economy modelling projects for the Australian electricity sector, including for AEMO.
Location: Melbourne
Contact details:
To arrange interviews, please contact:
Gabrielle Platt on 0493 442 307 or [email protected]