The Business Of Energy
Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to the podcast episode here.
In this episode of the Inside Riva Podcast, Sophie sits down with Justin McShane, CEO of Zool Energy, to explore how the conversation around energy is changing for Australian businesses.
Rather than treating energy as simply another operational expense, Justin explains why more organisations are beginning to view it as a strategic business asset. From rising energy costs and battery storage to AI, ESG and long-term planning, the conversation offers a practical look at how businesses can better prepare for the future.
Justin McShane | CEO of Zool Energy
More than an operational cost
For many businesses, energy has traditionally been something that simply arrived each month as another bill to pay.
Today, that mindset is changing.
As energy prices continue to rise and organisations look for greater certainty, energy is becoming part of a much bigger business conversation. Rather than asking how to reduce next month's bill, more business owners are asking how they can better manage costs, improve resilience and create predictable outcomes over the next five or ten years.
Justin believes that's where the real opportunity begins.
"Stop just treating your energy bill as a bill. Look at your energy like you've got an asset."
Thinking beyond solar
One of the biggest misconceptions Justin sees is that renewable energy starts and ends with installing solar panels.
In reality, that's only one piece of a much larger picture.
Battery storage, virtual power plants, AI and smarter energy management are changing the way businesses think about energy. The goal is no longer simply generating electricity, it's understanding how energy is consumed, stored and managed over time to create better business outcomes.
As Justin explains, adding more technology doesn't automatically solve the problem. The real value comes from understanding how your business operates and building an energy strategy around it.
Carina Leagues Club - Client of Zool Energy
Small changes, significant impact
One of the most practical insights from the conversation is that meaningful savings don't always begin with major infrastructure projects.
In fact, Justin believes many businesses are looking in the wrong place.
"It's understanding what you're using today and how we can use less of it tomorrow."
Rather than jumping straight to new technology, the first step is often understanding how your business already consumes energy.
Adjusting when equipment runs, reviewing energy usage patterns or making small operational improvements can have a significant impact over time. These simple changes often become the foundation for larger strategic decisions in the future.
Preparing for what's next
The conversation also explores the technologies reshaping the industry, from battery storage and AI to virtual power plants and ESG reporting.
While these innovations continue to evolve, Justin believes the biggest shift isn't technological, it's strategic.
Businesses are beginning to recognise that energy influences far more than operational costs. It affects profitability, forecasting, resilience and the ability to adapt to an increasingly complex business environment.
For leaders, that means energy deserves a place alongside finance, operations and long-term planning.
Not because every business needs the same solution, but because every business benefits from asking better questions about how energy is being used today and how it can create value tomorrow.
You can learn more about Justin and the work Zool Energy does here.
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