Energy Source & Distribution sits down with new EA Technology CEO Gareth Burton, who joins the company at a pivotal point in its growth journey.
Gareth, please tell us a bit about yourself personally and professionally:
My professional background spans more than 30 years working with enterprise software, construction, financial, and global technology services companies prior to joining EA Technology as CEO. I am currently based in Chester and acclimatising to life in the north-west of the UK, having spent most of my life in Southern England, except for stints living overseas in the United States and Germany.
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You’ve just joined EA Technology as CEO. What’s it been like so far?
I’m excited to be joining EA Technology at a time when technologies on the grid-edge are fundamentally being redefined by the growth in electrification and the adoption of renewables. Strengthening full network visibility through digitalisation is more critical than ever before for DNSPs. A few weeks before I joined EA Technology, the company acquired UK company Fundamentals Ltd, and we’ll be integrating their automatic voltage control (AVC) technology with our LV monitoring solutions. Total voltage control and management is now an issue as we connect more EVs and rooftop solar to the grid, and the Fundamentals acquisition shows how we’re building a larger business to support DNSPs with a single solution globally.
How is EA Technology supporting energy networks in the renewables transition?
EA Technology is supporting Australia’s renewable energy transition by helping energy networks become safer, smarter, and more resilient. Founded in 1966, our history predates Australia’s NEM by more than three decades, placing us in a unique position to support networks through a major structural shift. In the UK, we’re often referred to as the “University of LV and HV”, reflecting the depth of expertise we’ve built.
Every Australian DNSP uses EA Technology to manage the growing complexity of consumer energy resources, electrification and changing demand on the grid. We work with electricity generation, transmission, and distribution operators to improve how networks are planned, operated, and maintained. Our technology, software, and services help to prevent outages, optimise network operations and extend the life of critical assets, enabling customers to make informed and cost-effective investment decisions.
By combining deep network expertise with advanced data and actionable insights, we’re building a resilient, modern, and decarbonised electricity system.
What’s in store for the team this year?
There has been strong growth in Australia and globally in recent years as electricity systems evolve. Our research shows household energy loads in Australia are projected to rise by 35%, with evening peak usage increasing by up to 60% in homes with EVs by 2030.
I expect this momentum of growth to continue as the pace of electrification, the growth of renewable generation, the expansion of data centres driven by the global AI economy, and the digitisation of energy increase challenges for the grid.
As we increasingly rely on electricity, grid capacity and reliability are becoming critical. That’s why EA Technology is planning additional investments in R&D and scaling our monitoring and modelling platforms to support growth. We’re placing greater focus on applications and software-as-a-service solutions enabled by our hardware, while also strengthening our regional go-to-market teams to better support customers as the energy system becomes more complex.
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What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
I am a keen cyclist and skier, and when I am not on two tyres or skis, I can usually be found near a rugby pitch supporting Wales or somewhere warm like Ibiza or the south of France with my wife and three children, enjoying the local food and wine.
