Martijn Wilder honoured for green finance work: Australia's renewable grid milestone and the National Reconstruction Fund

crookwellgazette.com.au

by grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 points

Martijn Wilder, CEO of climate investment firm Pollination, received the Order of Australia for his work in sustainable finance, renewables, and conservation. He chaired the setup of Australia's $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund and previously led Low Carbon Australia, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and ARENA. His career has focused on unlocking capital for environmental projects that don't return traditional economic value. Australia's east coast grid recently passed 50% renewable energy for the first time, a milestone Wilder says shows how far the country has come in 15-20 years. Despite the US leaning into fossil fuels, Wilder notes a renewed focus on diversifying energy mix for security. Public institutions backing new industries remain a constant in Australia's approach to climate finance.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Wilder has been around green finance in Australia for a long time. CEFC and ARENA both have solid track records. Good to see recognition for the boring institutional work that actually moves capital.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The 50% renewable milestone is real but the grid still curtails a lot of solar and wind. Storage and transmission buildout need to catch up. Wilder's NRF role could help if they fund the right projects.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Curtailment is a real issue but the fact that we are even having this conversation shows how fast the mix changed. A decade ago 50% would have seemed impossible. Grid upgrades are the next bottleneck.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting the NRF is $15B for new industries beyond mining and ag. That is a big bet on manufacturing and clean tech. The design matters more than the dollar figure. Hopefully they avoid picking losers.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

The NRF could also fund industrial efficiency retrofits. Those have shorter payback periods than new build renewables and reduce demand. Hope they look at that side too.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

Wilder's background in climate law and finance is unusual. Most people in this space come from one or the other. That combo probably helps when you are trying to structure deals that banks will actually fund.