As we close out 2025, it’s a privilege to reflect on a year that has been dynamic, disruptive and defining for both the global energy landscape and our Energy Club WA community.
Across the world, the energy transition continues to accelerate, albeit unevenly.
This year highlighted some clear trends, dominated by the four ‘D’s: decarbonisation, deglobalisation, demographics and digitalisation:
- The world remains off track for 1.5 °C, with emissions expected
to peak later this decade. - Electrification is set to double, driven by AI, digital infrastructure
and industrial change. - Renewables continue their rapid expansion, while grid constraints
and permitting bottlenecks remain major challenges. - Firming technologies, from gas to long-duration storage, are becoming
critical for system stability. - And the global transition is increasingly multi-pathway, blending renewables,
LNG, CCS development efforts, nuclear and emerging fuels.
These clear trends framed the conversations we held throughout the year, conversations grounded in practical realities, technological innovation,
and the pace of change in our sector.
A Club immersed in the issues that matter
Our 2025 events reflected the breadth of our industry and the challenges and opportunities in front of us. We began the year with our very well-attended
January sundowner featuring Rystad, followed by a sellout CCUS event. We hosted Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King, exploring national policy directions,
industry readiness, and held a panel discussion on the enormous $60 billion decommissioning task facing Australia.
Across the year, we unpacked:
- Intensifying global LNG competition
- Evolving debate of electrons vs molecules
- And, most recently, the extraordinary impact of AI-driven electricity demand on power systems and industry planning
Our Industry Dinners featured senior leaders including Brett Woods of Beach Energy and Bill Townsend of INPEX, both mavericks in our industry, sharing insights on
LNG markets, decarbonisation strategies and how AI itself is reshaping the energy sector from data-centre growth to power system operations.
Western Australia’s 4 P’s: People, Progress, Projects, and Positioning
While global leaders gathered at COP30 in Belém to reaffirm climate commitments, Western Australia made meaningful progress of its own, including:
- The Scarborough Energy Project passed 90% completion and remains on track for first cargo in 2026, marking a major milestone in securing long-term supply capability.
- The North West Shelf secured its long-term extension, maintaining processing capacity into future decades, a development widely seen as supportive of
regional energy reliability, though its long-term impact will depend on markets, policy and environmental frameworks. - Significant investment continued across renewables, batteries and transmission, supporting the state’s ambition to retire government-owned coal generation by
2030, an objective with challenges but substantial momentum behind it. - And the WA Government implemented its Battery and Critical Minerals Strategy 2024–2030 alongside the updated Renewable Hydrogen Strategy 2024–2030,
reinforcing the state’s intention to lead in emerging clean-energy supply chains.
These developments reflect a broader truth: WA continues to be a global energy powerhouse with a unique combination of resources, capability and vision. These developments reflect a broader truth: WA continues to be a global energy powerhouse with a unique combination of resources, capability and vision.
A vibrant and growing Energy Club WA community
This year saw continued growth in our membership, with our Young Professionals community remaining among the strongest and most active in Australia.
We expanded our Next Gen Schools Program, inspiring students and strengthening the talent pipeline that will carry our sector through the next wave of transition.
From the Industry Gala Ball to the Annual Golf Day, and many other networking events throughout the year, we delivered events that connected colleagues,
built relationships and strengthened our community. From the Industry Gala Ball to the Annual Golf Day, and many other networking events throughout the year,
we delivered events that connected colleagues, built relationships and strengthened our community.
Through all of it, we remained true to our purpose: Connecting People with Energy.
Looking ahead: A decisive decade
The next five years will define the next fifty.
Investment in renewables, storage and low-carbon technologies will continue to rise sharply, yet oil and gas will remain essential for system stability and economic resilience.
Western Australia, with its deep skills base and world-class resources, sits at the centre of these forces.
And so does our Club.
Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the Energy Club WA, a milestone that celebrates decades of leadership, community and contribution.
Thank you
I’m proud of what we have achieved together in 2025, and even more proud of the strength and spirit of our community.
Please join us at the Summer Sundowner on 11 December as we celebrate the year and look forward to an exciting 2026.
On behalf of the Energy Club WA Board, I wish you and your loved ones a safe and joyful holiday season, and I look forward to seeing you at our events in the new year.
Jop van Hattum
President,
Energy Club WA