The public lecture on policy making on transitioning into alternative energy sources was held via Zoom on 07th April 2022 by Dr. Raj Mahanama

 Synopsis:

NSW is at a crossroads. As our existing power sources come to the end of their lives and global markets seek cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy sources, we have a once in a generation opportunity to redefine the State as a modern, global energy superpower.

Timely action to deliver the electricity infrastructure of our future-pumped hydro, Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) generation, firming and transmission—can unlock internationally competitive energy prices to grow the economy, support jobs, and attract major new industries.

The scale of potential benefits is substantial: around $32 billion in private investment and an estimated 6,300 construction jobs and 2.800 ongoing jobs in 2030.

The NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap is our plan to transition the electricity sector and seize those opportunities. It is a decisive step down the path towards thriving regions, a revitalised and reindustrialised economy, and better livelihoods.

Change is easy to propose, hard to implement and especially hard to sustain. Therefore, policy making becomes the heart of driving change. Sri Lanka can learn many things by studying how NSW has designed its energy policy that sets the basis for transitioning into a modern energy superpower.

The Speaker:

“Raj has over 12 years commercial and government experience in clean energy industry in Australia and abroad. Currently he is the manager of policy and strategy at the Electricity Roadmap Delivery Taskforce, NSW Department of Planning and Environment. He is responsible for strategising the implementation of Electricity Roadmap for NSW. Prior to that he led number of sustainable and renewable energy policies and projects in NSW including the $30 million Regional Community Energy Program, $15 million Solar for Low Income Households Program, Green Power Accreditation Program and Solar Bonus Scheme.

Raj is an engineer by education and has completed his first degree Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Moratuwa in 2008. Since then, he has completed a Master of Engineering (Sustainable Processing) and PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Sydney. He is a PMP (PMI-USA) certified Project Management Professional and has completed an Executive MBA (with excellence) from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at UNSW. He is a Gritton Scholar and a recipient of prestigious Australian Bioengineering Scholarship and has authored over 20 peer reviewed journal articles during his career”

 

Back to the Newsletter front page