Beyond net zero: defining the Australian energy legacy

Australia is investing in energy infrastructure that will shape communities, economies and environments for decades to come. These assets may outlast political cycles, market conditions and even the organisations that design, build and operate them. As the energy system changes, how we plan for the eventual closure, rehabilitation, redevelopment or repurposing of these assets will help define the legacy of the transition.

With Australia looking towards COP31 and an increasingly complex energy transition, this session will explore what responsible infrastructure stewardship looks like across the full asset lifecycle. The discussion will bring these perspectives together to consider what engineers can do differently today to shape better long-term outcomes.

Rather than focusing solely on how Australia reaches net zero, the session asks a broader question: what will Australia inherit from today’s energy transition, and what responsibility do engineers have in defining that legacy?

Who should attend?

This session is relevant to engineers and engineering leaders working across energy, resources, infrastructure, asset management, environment, project delivery and related disciplines. It will also appeal to engineers interested in whole-of-life decision-making and the broader role of the profession in shaping Australia’s long-term infrastructure legacy.

Learning outcomes

In this presentation, you will learn to:

• Explain key whole-of-life challenges and considerations associated with major energy infrastructure.
• Evaluate lessons from energy asset redevelopment, closure and rehabilitation projects.
• Apply long-term stewardship principles to engineering, project and asset management decisions.
• Examine the role engineers can play in shaping the environmental, social and infrastructure legacy of Australia’s energy transition.