I recently had the opportunity to attend the Global Renewable Energy Summit, thanks to our valued partners Sungrow and Solar Juice who sponsored my trip. It was a front-row seat to how energy systems are changing — not in theory, but in practice. 

What struck me most wasn’t the ambition; it was the action. Technologies that once sat on the fringe are now scaling fast. The business case has matured. And across every conversation, one message came through clearly: energy is shifting from a cost to a controllable asset. For commercial and industrial businesses, that changes everything. 

Global capital is flowing into proven technologies 

Last year, global investment in the energy transition hit USD $2.08 trillion. That’s not policy talk — its capital hitting the ground. And while there's plenty of noise around emerging solutions like hydrogen or CCS, the bulk of this investment is going into what works today: solar, energy storage, electrified transport, and grid infrastructure. 

These are the technologies businesses can act on right now — and increasingly, they’re expected to. We’re past the stage of early adoption. This is becoming standard practice for energy-aware operators. 

Storage is stepping up 

Battery prices are approaching USD $100/MWh, and trending toward $50 in the next decade. At those levels, batteries move from being a resilience tool to a revenue opportunity. 

The most forward-thinking organisations I speak with aren’t asking whether batteries stack up — they’re asking how to integrate them into a broader energy strategy. With battery monetisation platforms, automated trading, and VPP integration now readily available, storage is no longer a sunk cost. It’s an asset. 

Australia’s grid is transforming — fast 

Another major theme was the pace at which grid infrastructure is evolving. As we move away from centralised, fossil-fuel-based generation, technologies like grid-forming inverters and modular inverters are stepping in to keep things stable. 

This is especially relevant for Australia, where high renewable penetration and ageing grid assets make flexibility a necessity. ARENA and AEMO are already backing grid-forming trials across the country — but what’s also clear is that the private sector will play a big role in supporting stability through smarter, distributed infrastructure. 

Microgrids and VPPs are no longer theoretical 

We’re seeing real deployments of microgrids in industrial zones, logistics hubs, and even urban communities. These aren’t just about resilience — they’re enabling greater energy independence, better cost control, and in many cases, market participation. 

Likewise, virtual power plants are becoming more sophisticated, allowing businesses to contribute stored or excess energy into the grid and be financially rewarded for it. That’s a big shift from the traditional retail energy model, and it opens the door to far more flexible, tailored energy strategies. 

AI is becoming the engine room 

One of the more exciting developments is the role of AI in managing energy systems. Beyond predicting solar output or demand, it’s about making real-time optimisation decisions across generation, storage, load, and market participation. 

In complex commercial operations, AI is already improving performance by reducing costs, identifying inefficiencies, and making systems more adaptive. As these tools mature, they’ll become a key differentiator between energy users who are reactive and those who are proactive. 

What does this mean for Australian business leaders? 

The energy landscape is changing quickly — but the tools to stay ahead are already here. Businesses that act now will lock in lower long-term energy costs, create operational flexibility, and meet growing stakeholder expectations around emissions and ESG performance. 

At Smart, we work with clients every day who are moving from compliance to competitiveness — using solar, batteries, and intelligent systems not just to tick a box, but to gain an edge. 

If your business is still viewing energy as an overhead, it’s time to rethink the model.