How do you keep the lights on while transforming power generation?
What happens when offshore infrastructure reaches the end of its operational life?
Can Western Australia become a global hub for data centres, and what would that mean for the economy?
These aren’t hypothetical questions. They’re challenges being worked through right now – challenges that will determine whether WA leads the global energy transition or watches it happen elsewhere. From March 10-12, the people making those decisions will be at Energy Exchange Australia.
The Balancing Act Requiring a Resolution
Energy security has become the defining challenge of this decade. How do you maintain reliable power while transforming how that power is produced?
For WA, the stakes are high. Our gas reserves keep the lights on while renewable projects scale up. Get the transition wrong and we face blackouts. Get it right and we prove energy transition is practical.
A major panel at EXA titled “All In: Powering Australia’s Future” brings together government, energy operators and renewable developers to explore how collaboration can deliver a reliable, affordable and lower-emissions energy system.
The Data Centre Opportunity
Global tech companies are evaluating Perth for hyperscale data centres – facilities bringing billions in investment and creating an entirely new industry sector.
Sessions at EXA 2026 will explore balancing data centre demand with grid reliability and whether renewables can power these facilities. One session, “What’s Really Working with AI in Resources (and What’s Not),” will cut through the hype to explore what’s delivering results.
Real Projects, Real Investment
Major operators including Woodside and Chevron will present project updates – intelligence that helps local suppliers position themselves for work.
Over thirty years, offshore infrastructure worth more than $60 billion needs to be safely retired. The Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) will reveal its Forward Outlook, detailing which projects are coming and what capabilities operators are seeking.
Why This Matters
Energy Exchange Australia builds on a 43-year legacy as Australia’s leading oil and gas exhibition (AOG), evolving to reflect how the industry has changed. Gas remains crucial, but carbon capture, hydrogen, wind and decommissioning have moved from future concepts to active projects.
Premier Hon. Roger Cook will open EXA 2026, reflecting the event’s backing from government, major operators like Woodside and Chevron, and organisations like CODA, City of Perth and Business Events Perth, who see it as central to WA’s energy future.
The questions posed at the start won’t be resolved in isolation. They require operators to work with technology providers, policymakers to engage with engineers, and international expertise to connect with local capability. These conversations happen when the entire energy supply chain comes together in one place.
That’s why Perth remains one of the world’s most important energy cities. Not because of what’s been done, but because of what we’re about to figure out.