Marija's expertise
Marija Petkovic is a leading expert in wholesale electricity markets and the transition to clean energy in Australia.
As the Founder and Managing Director of Energy Synapse, Marija is a highly sought-after advisor, trusted by some of the biggest ASX listed companies, as well as state and federal government bodies.
Marija is known for her deep expertise in predictive modelling of energy markets, as well as industry leadership in battery storage and demand response. She has also successfully launched a tech platform with Energy Synapse, which gives clients an unprecedented view of energy market dynamics and the performance of over 150 large-scale wind, solar, battery, and pumped hydro assets in the grid.
Throughout her career, Marija has been known for her innovation and ability to distill complex concepts and make them easy to understand by audiences of all levels.
Marija is on the Editorial Board of Ecogeneration Magazine and is also a mentor to top PhD students in energy through the IMNIS program.
Marija holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) (Hons I) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of Sydney.
Marija's expertise
Marija Petkovic is a leading expert in wholesale electricity markets and clean energy.
As the Founder and Managing Director of Energy Synapse, Marija is a highly sought-after advisor. She is trusted by some of the biggest ASX listed companies, as well as state and federal government bodies.
Our electricity system is going through the biggest transformation in its history. Coal-fired power stations generate most of our power right now, but they are ageing and quickly losing economic viability. The future lies in renewable energy coupled with highly flexible assets such as batteries, pumped hydro, demand response, and gas.
Marija is known for her deep expertise in predictive modelling of energy markets, as well as industry leadership in battery storage and demand response. She has also successfully launched a tech platform with Energy Synapse, which gives clients an unprecedented view of energy market dynamics and the performance of over 150 large-scale wind, solar, battery, and pumped hydro assets in the grid.
Throughout her career, Marija has been known for her innovation and ability to distill complex concepts to make them easy to understand by audiences of all levels.
Marija speaks and provides media commentary on:
Renewables and storage - the key to a reliable grid
Marija has been speaking about renewables since 2012 when she authored the first study of its kind, which modelled how battery storage could firm wind power in South Australia. Since then, Marija has acted as lead modeller and advisor for some of the biggest clean projects under development. Marija is also highly skilled in commercial arrangements, having successfully negotiated a $1 billion clean energy offtake deal in New York.
Policy and market reforms - what does it mean?
Marija can comment on the impacts of state and federal energy policies and major market reforms such as the five minute settlement rule change and the wholesale demand response mechanism.
Practical insights and updates on energy markets and electricity prices
Marija and her team at Energy Synapse regularly produce insights on the National Electricity Market and wholesale electricity price outcomes. Marija speaks on the risks and opportunities for developers and investors of clean energy projects and impacts on consumers. Marija has also acted as an expert witness in legal proceedings related to electricity pricing.
Future for the heavy industry - how to thrive in a low carbon world
Electricity is a key strategic input for heavy industry. Large energy users have the opportunity to take advantage of low cost renewables, produce green commodities, and slash their energy costs by providing flexibility services to the grid. Marija has spent a decade working directly with large industrials all over Australia, New Zealand and the United States to implement clean energy and demand response strategies, which save tens of millions of dollars in electricity costs each year.
Startups, tech, and STEM
Marija is an engineer turned entrepreneur and can speak about her journey of founding a clean tech startup.
The future of heavy industry in Australia largely depends on the price of electricity. By improving the flexibility of their operations, large energy users could act as 'virtual batteries' to help support the clean energy transition and secure a competitive advantage through significant electricity cost savings.
Marija's work makes regular appearance in the media. She is also a seasoned speaker at major energy conferences and corporate events.
STEM Leader and Mentor
Marija has a passion for developing the next generation of STEM leaders. Marija mentors Australia’s top PhD students in energy through the Industry Mentoring Network in STEM (IMNIS) – an award winning program run by the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.
Marija is also on the Editorial Board of EcoGeneration Magazine.
Qualifications
Marija holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) (Hons I) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of Sydney.
