SEC News

Smart Energy Council joins Austrade’s Trade Diversification Network 

The Smart Energy Council (SEC) is delighted to be appointed to Austrade’s Trade Diversification Network (TDN) and is the only national peak industry body in the network representing Australia’s clean energy and circular economy sectors.

The TDN brings together 40 peak industry bodies to help Australian exporters diversify and grow into new markets. Through this appointment, the SEC will work closely with Austrade to design and deliver practical export support for smart energy businesses – including trade missions, market-entry guidance, introductions and targeted opportunity briefs.

SEC Chief Executive Officer John Grimes – Chair-elect of the Global Solar Council and CEO of the Renewable Energy Council Asia Pacific (RECAP) – said the appointment reflects the SEC’s long-standing focus on building international linkages that convert Australia’s clean energy capability into export wins.

“The energy transition across our region is creating the largest new wave of industrial and infrastructure investment in decades,” he said. “Australia is well placed to compete and this partnership with Austrade will help more Australian companies turn capability into contracts in fast-growing markets.”


Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator the Hon Don Farrell said trade diversification is central to jobs and national resilience.

“Australia is a trading nation and we want to see more Australian exporters doing more trade with new and emerging partners across the globe,” he said.

What SEC and Austrade will deliver for exporters

Over the next 18 months, the Smart Energy Council will work with Austrade to deliver a focused program for members and Australian exporters, including:

  • Export pathways and market-entry support tailored to clean energy and circular economy products and services
  • Delegations and showcases in priority and emerging markets
  • Market opportunity briefs and practical “how-to” guidance for companies scaling internationally
  • A new online directory to promote Australian smart energy capability to international buyers and partners

The SEC will continue its international engagement program, including returning delegations to key markets such as China and India and expanding into new opportunities across Southeast Asia, the Pacific and beyond. The first new-market delegation will support Australian participation in the Sustainable Energy Industry Association of the Pacific Islands’ inaugural conference in Suva (24-25 March 2026).

Join the SEC to access export opportunities

The Smart Energy Council represents more than 1,000 member organisations across solar, storage, wind, power electronics, distributed energy, product stewardship and circular economy supply chains. Companies seeking export growth are encouraged to join the SEC to access market intelligence, delegations, introductions and member-only briefings.

To find out more about SEC export activity, delegations or membership:

Contact: Jess Hampshire – jessica@smartenergy.org.au 

Media enquiries: Tim Lamacraft – tim@smartenergy.org.au 

ENDS


About the Smart Energy Council

The Smart Energy Council is Australia’s peak industry body for smart energy, representing businesses across renewable generation, storage, electrification, distributed energy and circular economy solutions.

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Smart Stewardship

Chair: Darren Johannesen

Meeting Frequency: Every 12 Weeks

Sector Scope

  • Recyclers
  • PV Manufacturers
  • Product stewardship participants

Policy Scope

  • Stewardship policy
  • Recycling frameworks
  • Circular economy initiatives

Technology Scope

  • Solar
  • Batteries

Topics Scope

  • Recycling pathways
  • Product stewardship schemes
  • End-of-life management
  • Industry obligations
  • Sustainability initiatives

Smart Global

Chair: Robert Potter

Meeting Frequency: Every 12 Weeks

Sector Scope

  • Importers
  • Exporters
  • Investors
  • International projects

Policy Scope

  • International trade
  • Market entry
  • Export facilitation
  • Trade Tariff 

Technology Scope

  • Smart energy technologies
  • Climate technologies

Topics Scope

  • Renewable Energy Council Asia Pacific
  • Export opportunities
  • Trade missions
  • Global Climate
  • International partnerships
  • Investment opportunities

Smart Transport

Chair: Rhiannon Evans

Meeting Frequency: Every 12 Weeks

Sector Scope

  • Transport technology providers
  • Light and Heavy Electric Fleet operators
  • Charging infrastructure businesses

Policy Scope

  • EV policy
  • Charging infrastructure
  • Transport electrification
  • Network integration
  • Incentives 

Technology Scope

  • Electric vehicles
  • Charging infrastructure
  • Fleet technologies
  • Distribution Network

Topics Scope

  • Rapid Expansion
  • Interconnections
  • Regulations and Standards
  • V2X

Smart Manufacturing

Chair: Rod Scott

Meeting Frequency: Every 12 Weeks

Sector Scope

  • Local manufacturers
  • Technology developers
  • Component suppliers
  • Emerging technologies

Policy Scope

  • Supply Chain
  • R&D
  • Manufacturing Incentives
  • CEFC

Technology Scope

  • Solar
  • Storage
  • Electronics
  • Software
  • Critical materials

Topics Scope

  • Expanding local manufacturing
  • Export opportunities
  • Supply chains
  • Local content
  • Investment attraction
  • Industry capability

Smart Large-scale

Chair: Sohaib Mohammed

Meeting Frequency: Every 8 Weeks

Sector Scope

  • Large & utility scale developers
  • Asset owners
  • Investors
  • EPCs

Policy Scope

  • NEM Review
  • Capacity Investment Scheme
  • Planning Regulation

Technology Scope

  • Solar
  • Storage
  • Wind
  • Transmission

Topics Scope

  • Interconnection
  • Development
  • Financing
  • Energy Wholesaling
  • Planning Regulation

Smart Consumer

Chair: John Welch

Meeting Frequency: Every 8 Weeks

Sector Scope:

  • Installers
  • Retailers
  • Wholesales
  • Service providers

Policy Scope

  • Consumer Energy Resources (CER) Rebate programs
  • Accreditation
  • Local regulations

Technology Scope

  • Solar
  • Battery storage
  • Energy retail
  • Distributed network technologies

Topics Scope

  • Compliance obligations
  • Training and workforce issues
  • Regulations 
  • Consumer protection
  • Energy retail developments
  • Virtual Power Plants (VPP)
  • Industry best practice

Contact Thornton de Voy

Contact Yuan Fang

Contact Ivan Chelvathurai

Contact Nigel Morris

Contact Charlie Caruso

Contact Allen Edwards

Contact Darren Johannesen

Contact Jessica Hampshire