Australia’s energy transition is reshaping technologies, landscapes, communities, and markets at unprecedented speed. Social value has emerged as a critical concept across policy, regulation, and project delivery to ensure that the benefits of the energy transition reach all Australians. This paper explores how social value should be defined, assessed, and applied in Australia’s energy transition, presenting diverse perspectives and inviting informed debate. It draws on initial research by Community Power Agency, PATHMAKER and RE-Alliance examining how social value is currently understood and operationalised in the energy sector, informed by international and Australian frameworks, policy analysis, and interviews with leading practitioners.
