Essential Energy in conjunction with selected partners has developed a multi-use composite streetlight column. The column can accommodate an EV charger as well at the head of the column assets such as security cameras or 5G repeaters. The first column was installed in May 2024 and trialled with an in-built EV charger. This trial was highly successful and demonstrates a practical use case for leveraging infrastructure for multiple uses, minimising street furniture and delivering on customer needs. Essential Energy will share the learnings from this trial and provide insights into its product development journey, and where it is going to next.
QA Lab: Lab for materials testing and accelerated ageing. It underpins our capabilities with regard to composite technology development and deep knowledge about cost versus benefit.
NEXUS the Innovation Hub is a part of this bigger facility. We destructively test materials here including our composite products so we know how they will perform in service over extended adverse environmental conditions. This is an important factor when you are considering multiple use assets.
Brad Trethewey
Brad Trethewey is a senior manager at Essential Energy and an experienced electrical and computer systems engineer. He currently leads Essential Energy’s Innovation team. He has decades of experience in network asset management, standards and groundbreaking innovation within the industry in NSW and QLD. Brad established Essential Energy's renowned Quality Assurance lab which has led the transition to composite products within Essential Energy and more broadly across electrical distribution networks in Australia.
Stuart Simpson
Stuart Simpson holds a Bachelor of Business with honours. He is currently working in the Innovation team at Essential Energy. He has been the lead on Essential Energy Innovation initiatives for the deployment of destination EV charging at the lowest cost for customers using Essential Energy’s infrastructure. In his first Innovation initiative, he led the deployment of EV charging capability on Essential Energy timber poles. More recently, he has led the groundbreaking development of the in composite column EV charger initiative with our partner Wagners and EVX, attracting significant national interest. Stuart has been with Essential Energy for 3 years and, before joining the Innovation team, had a depth of experience in developing digital solutions and new concepts in Essential Energy’s Information Technology arm.
Street light trial PowerPoint Slides (PDF Format)
QA Hub PowerPoint Slides (PDF Format)
NEXUS Demonstrator PowerPoint Slides (PDF Format)