Australian energy transition guru to lead “most exciting climate strategy anywhere”

Energy transition expert Dan Cass has officially joined electrify everything guru Saul Griffith at Rewiring Australia as the group’s first executive director.

Cass, who helped Griffith to establish Rewiring Australia in his previous role at The Australia Institute, has worked  in climate and renewable energy advocacy since 1991.

From 2017 until this year Cass was a senior researcher and advisor with TAI and the Clean Energy Investor Group, with a focuses on how to accelerate electrification and decarbonisation of electricity markets.

Now officially part of the core team at Rewiring Australia, Cass joins the mission to demonstrate the many environmental and economic benefits that come from powering homes and businesses with modern, electrified appliances powered by solar and firmed by batteries.

Griffith says Cass will lead Rewiring Australia’s shift from advocacy of household electrification to real world pilot projects demonstrating renewable electrification.

“Over the next few years, entire towns and suburbs will experience the financial liberation of being freed from fossil fuel bills,” Griffith said in a statement on Friday.

“If we really get our act together we can steal a march on the rest of the world and press home our extensive lead with household solar to fully decarbonise our homes.

“Dan’s experience across policy, research and advocacy is unrivalled. His work is already accelerating decarbonisation and we will lean heavily on Dan’s knowledge and experience to ensure vast swathes of Australians enjoy the benefit of household electrification as soon as possible.”

Cass describes electrification is “the most exciting climate strategy anywhere” for its ability to drive innovation and accelerate the exit from fossil fuels, while also delivering tangible benefits to everyday Australians.

“It is the fastest, cheapest and most effective way to decarbonise,” Cass says.

“Australia has all the renewable resources, technical knowledge and popular affection for clean energy to win the race to several hundred percent clean energy.”