Cybersecurity and Clean Energy: Insights from the Cyber Energia Dinner | 16 July 2025
As Australia's clean energy transformation accelerates, the intersection between digital infrastructure and energy systems is becoming a national security priority. On 16 July, the Australian Renewables Academy joined a focused group of sector leaders for the @Cyber Energia Dinner and Presentation, a thought-provoking event that explored how we can secure the future of renewable energy.
Hosted in Melbourne, the event brought together stakeholders across cyber, energy, infrastructure, and governance to examine both the visible and hidden risks facing the systems that power our grids, industries, and communities.
Why This Matters Now The Australian clean energy sector is expanding rapidly—with major developments underway and the growth of decentralised energy storage and smart systems. But this digital evolution brings with it new vulnerabilities, particularly in operational technology (OT) environments.
The event, led by @Cyber Energia, a global cybersecurity firm specialising in renewable infrastructure, underscored the urgent need for tailored cyber strategies. With active operations in Australia, Cyber Energia is supporting clean energy providers in meeting new obligations under the Security of Critical Infrastructure (SCI) framework, as amended by the Cyber Security Strategy 2023–2030 and related legislation. These frameworks now place greater emphasis on the cyber resilience of critical infrastructure sectors, including renewable energy.
Key Themes and Takeaways From ARA's perspective, the evening delivered five critical insights for clean energy leaders, particularly those engaged in workforce and infrastructure planning:
Visibility is Everything Organisations may have firewalls and VPNs—but often lack real-time threat detection. This "visibility gap" is a liability, especially for operators managing distributed energy assets or remote OT systems.
Insurance is Getting Smarter (and Stricter). Cyber Resilience Is No Longer a "Nice-to-Have" for Insurance Coverage. Underwriters are tightening criteria, meaning poor cyber hygiene can now affect both premiums and payout eligibility.
Lateral Threat Movement Is Real Case studies showed how malware can move silently across sites, even in siloed systems. This issue is relevant not only to renewables but also to co-located sectors such as health, disability, aged care, and manufacturing.
Security Must Extend Beyond IT Building automation systems, HVAC controls, battery management platforms—these are all entry points for cyberattacks in modern energy systems. Cybersecurity must now include both IT and OT domains.
We Need Tailored, Sector-Specific Solutions Generic cybersecurity setups aren't cutting it. The complexity of clean energy business models—especially those relying on PPAs, energy storage, and smart grid participation—demands bespoke, risk-weighted protection.
At the Australian Renewables Academy, our mission includes ensuring that the workforce is equipped not only with technical skills but also with the cyber awareness and risk literacy necessary in today's energy landscape. We're also deeply interested in the cyber implications for training delivery, distributed systems, and integrating digital skills into clean energy education frameworks.
We thank Cyber Energia and all who participated in this critical dialogue. It's clear that cybersecurity is no longer a peripheral issue (if it ever was!) —it's central to resilience, reliability, and the long-term sustainability of Australia's energy transition.
Let's keep this conversation going. If you're a clean energy provider, policymaker, TAFE, or training organisation looking to strengthen your cyber resilience and workforce capability, get in touch with us at ARA, a member of the Management Governance Australia Group.
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