From bold policy announcements to cutting-edge project insights, Energy Exchange Australia (EXA) 2026 made an impression on its attendees.
As the three-day event got underway, more than 5000 attendees, 220 exhibitors and around 170 speakers filled the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre for critical conversations, world-class keynotes, and ground-breaking insights. The program covered the full spectrum of the sector, from LNG and decommissioning to hydrogen, electrification and battery storage.
Full steam ahead in Western Australia
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook opened the event with a bang, laying out his vision for the future of energy – one defined by affordability, security and opportunity as the state transitions toward a decarbonised economy.
Here he announced $150 million in low-interest loans for WA manufacturers investing in solar, battery storage and energy-efficient technologies, as well as the launch of the State of Energy campaign, setting out a plan to position WA as a global energy powerhouse.
“If a steel fabricator wants to upgrade to precision machinery that uses less power and delivers higher output, we will back that investment,” he said. “If a food processor wants to install solar and battery storage to control peak demand and stabilise operating costs, we will help finance. If a regional manufacturer wants to automate production and adopt energy efficient technologies and step into a new supply chain, we will support that move.
“We want to grow manufacturing in Western Australia, we want to make more things here, build more here, power more here, and it will help everyday Western Australians too, as manufacturing businesses embracing renewable energy storage and more energy efficient processes.
“There has never been a more exciting time to be part of the Western Australian story.”
His address framed the transition in economic terms as much as environmental ones, linking clean energy investment with jobs, industry growth and long-term competitiveness. That message landed early and stuck.
Chevron maps out the future
Decommissioning was a major talking point at this year’s event. Chevron spoke extensively about its Barrow Island decommissioning campaign in WA and the 2026 work phase.
The companies’ Barrow Island oil assets ceased producing in 2025 after roughly 60 years in operation, kick-starting one of Australia’s largest decommissioning projects. The project includes the plug and abandonment of almost wells and the removal of various facilities and infrastructure. After this step, complex environmental remediation works will begin.
At EXA, Chevron said it expects to have all Barrow Island pipelines and facilities cleaned in 2026, which is a major step for the project. The company will also commence well plugging activities, as well as prepare infrastructure for removal.
Paul Scudds, the man in charge of decommissioning the oil wells on Barrow Island, described the challenge of the work program.
“Having remoteness, a large footprint and an A-class nature reserve makes it quite complex to decommission this asset,” he said.
Decommissioning was once again in focus as Francis Norman, CEO of the Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA), delivered a presentation on the opportunities associated with addressing Australia’s ageing oil and gas infrastructure. He later joined a panel discussion on the same topic, where the critical role of ports was explored.
He also teased an upcoming report, Australia’s Oil and Gas Decommissioning Regulatory Landscape, which maps the complex and overlapping jurisdictional rules and regulations governing the sector.
CCS proves its worth
There are only a small number of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects active in Australia, such as Chevron’s Gorgon project, Santos’ Moomba project, and a few others in development. Public sentiment – and government policy – towards CCS is generally cold, with detractors citing safety and environmental concerns. But at EXA, international speakers were able to show how the technology is successfully working Europe.
Norwegian Energy Partners’ Tore Moe shared an in-depth look at the Longship CCS project. Longship is a large-scale CO₂ capture, transport and storage project that spans international borders and industries. Longship captures CO₂ from industrial sources, which is then transported via ship to the Northern Lights project – the transport and storage backbone of Longship. Northern Lights then ships it to a west-coast Norwegian terminal where it is temporarily stored, then injects it 2600m beneath the seabed.
Moe explained that the project is a case study that is demonstrating the feasibility of a multi-user CO₂ injection hub.
“Longship already has offtake agreements in place with multiple European emitters, allowing captured CO₂ to be transported into Norway for storage,” he said.
This sentiment was echoed by Norwegian ambassador Anne Grete Riise, who highlighted the country’s practical experience with scaling CCS to support industrial decarbonisation.
“Carbon capture, utilisation and storage is no longer just a vision – it’s becoming an industry – slowly,” she said.
“But in order to reach its full potential, we need continued collaboration between countries, but also between governments, academia and industry. And we need smart policy, and market-driven solutions.
“Maybe, while Norway is doing Northern Lights, capturing CO₂ from hard-to-abate sites in Europe, transporting it up to Norway, for storing under the seabed. Maybe some day we will see the contours of Southern Lights.”
EXA ultimately reinforced the scale, complexity and opportunity of the energy transition, bringing together industry, government and global experts to share practical pathways forward. From major policy commitments in Western Australia to real-world progress in decommissioning and CCS, the event made it clear that the energy transition is well underway. As the sector evolves, EXA remains a critical platform for collaboration, innovation and momentum, helping to drive Australia’s journey toward a more secure, competitive and low-carbon energy future.