Examples of projects Seed Advisory has recently completed include:

Business case review

• Advised the Energy Retailers Association of Australia with a review of the costs and benefits of the Demand Response Mechanism.
• Assisted an international investor with due diligence for a potential generation asset acquisition.
• Reviewed key elements of the Smart Grid Smart City tender on behalf of the Federal Government.
• Assisted a regional water authority with developing a Board recommendation, business case and supporting financial model in relation to its renewable energy purchasing strategy.
• Reviewed the business case for a waste to energy cogeneration facility in the Pilbara district.

Strategic advice

• Advised a major energy user on the development and implementation of a revised energy purchasing strategy.
• Advised a major energy company on the strategic implications of a potential new channel partner.
• Presented to the Board of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation on the strategic drivers of wholesale electricity and renewable electricity prices.
• Advised on the strategic opportunities for the LNG facility in Victoria.
• Advised a regional water authority on the practical and commercial considerations of procuring renewable electricity and the development of a strategy.
• Assisted the new owners of a major energy company with a strategic review of key contracts in its wholesale and retail portfolio to identify key issues within the portfolio.

Policy development

• Advised the Clean Energy Regulator on certain design elements of the Emissions Reduction Fund.
• Advised the West Australian government on the transfer pricing and ring fencing implications for the merger of Verve and Synergy.
• Advised the West Australian government on the development of the standard product regime.
• Advised a major pipeline owner and operator on the strategic options for gas market development.
• Advised a major energy user on the implications of the changes to embedded network regulations on their business.
• Advised the AEMC on residential electricity retail price trends.
• Worked with ClimateWorks Australia and a cross section of energy industry participants to develop solutions to address the barriers to connecting cogeneration to the distribution network.
• Undertook a study to identify and assess the barriers and issues confronting developers installing tri and co-generation in the CBD and Southbank areas and to recommend options for their potential resolution.  The report was fact-based and focused on those issues and levers which, if successfully addressed, would assist in removing the current barriers being experienced by developers to the introduction of tri- and cogeneration.
• Reviewed a pre-publication report prepared by the Monash Sustainability Institute on demand management opportunities in Victoria.
• Assisted an electric vehicle services company with understanding the regulatory barriers impacting the roll out of electric vehicles in the National Electricity Market including metering and settlement related issues.

Risk management

• Advised the Energy Supply Association of Australia and the Private Generators Group on the implications of the potential G20 reforms relating to OTC derivatives.
• Advised a major energy retailer on determining its risk appetite and the required changes to its risk management framework.
• Advised the Australian Energy Market Operator on the performance of the prudential arrangements in the National Electricity Market and recommended changes to the maximum credit limit methodology to improve it’s performance.
• Reviewed the stress testing methodology for a major energy retailers wholesale gas risk position.
• Reviewed the capabilities and preparadeness of a participant in the Short Term Trading Market, this included reviewing policies, procedures and reporting and identifying issues, gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Reviewed the process, methodology, and transfer prices for commercial and industrial electricity customers for a major energy retailer.  This included assessing the suitability of the methodology to cover risk, reviewing the end to end process for completeness and identifying any gaps and improvement opportunities.  The report and findings were presented to the company’s Risk Management Committee.

Derivative valuation

• Advised an energy company on the suitability of using differing valuation methodologies for the purposes of accounting versus risk management requirements.
• Assisted an energy company with developing a methodology and valuation model to value gas derivatives within their portfolio.  The gas derivatives covered both the Victorian wholesale gas market and the Short Term Trading Market in South Australia.

Staff training and development

• Developed and delivered a tailor made leadership training course on the implications and opportunities of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme for a major corporate recovery advisory firm.  This included developing relevant case studies and providing insights applicable to the key focus areas of their business.

Organisational design

• Assisted a major energy retailer with assessing and recommending changes to the organisational design of its Marketing and Sales departments.  This included assessing the alignment of the structure with the broader business strategy and preparadeness for key external market challenges.
• Assisted a major energy retailer with developing a structure for its E-Business capability including developing a business model for E-Business functions and integrating the campaign capability with the existing campaign processes.

Product development

• Advised a demand side management aggregator on a product and market review for demand side products targeted at energy retailers.  This included assessing key market segments, market drivers and commercial opportunities available.  In addition we provided insights and research into pricing and commercial implications of current and prospective products to this market.

Commercial advice

• Reviewed the appropriateness of electricity network tariffs and charges paid by a major electricity customer.  The review identified savings in excess of $300,000 per annum through changing to more appropriate network tariffs.