Dane Thomas
Ergon Energy Networks, Queensland
Presentation: Solar on social housing in remote communities – Challenge and Opportunity.
Isolated Network Manager with Ergon Energy, Dane leads a team transforming the energy supply across 39 diverse and remote communities in Queensland. He is passionate about supporting a bright future for these communities, recognising clean, safe and reliable energy as essential to achieving this vision.
Over the past five years, he has led the transition from diesel generation towards decarbonisation through the integration of renewable energy, supported by the Queensland Government’s Jobs and Energy Plan. In 2021, his team successfully enabled two communities in far western Queensland to achieve 80% instantaneous renewable energy through an innovative solar monitoring and control system. In 2023, the team progressed the design of renewable energy systems to deliver more than 50% renewable energy across four communities, including the capability to operate in diesel-off mode.
Dane lives in Townsville and enjoys spending time with his two daughters, ice bathing and mountain biking, where he is known for doing his own stunts.