Professor Penelope Crossley
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Professor Penelope Crossley

BEc(SocSci) (Hons) LLB (Hons) (Sydney) GradDipLegalPrac (College of Law) PhD (Sydney)
Professor and Director of Alumni Engagement
Phone
+61 2 9351 0388
Address
F10 - Law School (Camperdown)
The University of Sydney
Websites
Professor Penelope Crossley

Professor Penelope Crossley is an international expert in the complex legal issues associated with the energy transition, including renewable energy and energy storage law, and electricity market governance. She is known for her sustained engagement with industry and government stakeholders, and for developing recommendations that have been directly adopted into law, international policy documents, and consumer guides.

In addition to her academic role, Penelope holds important clean energy industry leadership roles, serving as the Chair of the Product Listing Review Panel (2016 – present) and the Chair of the New Energy Technology Consumer Code Monitoring and Compliance Panel (2023 – present).

Previously, Penelope worked as an international project finance lawyer, and global in-house counsel for BP Alternative Energy. This commercial and practical legal experience informs her current research, ensuring that she focuses on real-world problems and identifies innovative commercial solutions that can be easily translated and applied.

  • Energy law and policy
  • Renewable energy law
  • Energy storage law
  • Electricity market governance
  • Critical minerals and resources law
  • The transition to a net zero and circular economy
  • Decommissioning and end of life of energy technologies
  • The regulation of emerging technologies
  • LAWS6964: Global Energy and Resources Law
  • LAWS3507/5207: Energy Law: Renewables and Emerging Technologies
  • LAWS6960: Offshore Energy Law
  • LAWS1012/5002: Tort Law
  • LAWS1017/5006: Torts and Contracts II
  • International and Comparative Renewable Energy Law
  • Contract Negotiation in the Energy and Resources Sector
  • Strategic Negotiation Skills

  • Chair of the Product Listing Review Panel (2016 – Present)
  • Independent Board Director of the Energy Users Association of Australia (2017 - Present)
  • Member of the Distributed Energy Leadership Forum (Clean Energy

    Council) (2018 - Present)

  • International Editorial Board of the Journal of Global Energy, Law, Policy and Sustainability (2022 - Present)

  • Chair of the New Energy Tech Consumer Code Compliance and Monitoring Panel (2022 - Present)

  • Editor in Chief of the Australian Resources and Energy Law Journal (2021-2023)

  • Senior Industry Advisor on Regulatory and Policy Issues, Australian Energy Storage Alliance (2015 - 2020)

  • ARC DECRA Fellowship 2024-2027

  • Vice Chancellor’s Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the University Community 2022

  • Chloe Munro Scholarship for Transformational Leadership in the Energy Sector 2021-2022

  • SOAR Prize 2020 – 2022

  • Vice Chancellors Award for Outstanding Teaching 2018

  • Honorary Life Fellow of the University of Sydney Union 2016

Project titleResearch student
Renewable energy power purchase agreementsGraeme DENNIS

Selected publications

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Publications

Books

  • McDonald, B., Rolph, D., Crossley, P., Turton, G. (2023). Cases on Torts - 7th edition. Alexandria: The Federation Press.
  • Rolph, D., Varuhas, J., Crossley, P., Douglas, M. (2021). Balkin and Davis Law of Torts - 6th Edition. Sydney: LexisNexis.
  • Crossley, P. (2019). Renewable Energy Law: An International Assessment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [More Information]

Edited Books

  • Oyewunmi, T., Crossley, P., Sourgens, F., Talus, K. (2020). Decarbonisation and the Energy Industry: Law, Policy and Regulation in Low-Carbon Energy Markets. Oxford: Hart Publishing.
  • Hunter Soliman, T., Herrera Anchustegui, I., Crossley, P., Alvarez, G. (2020). Routledge Handbook of Energy Law. Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]

Book Chapters

  • Crossley, P. (2025). Future Developments in Investor-State Disputes in the Renewable Energy Sector: From Fair and Equitable Treatment to the Rise of Protectionism and Sovereign Supply ? In Rahmi Kopar, Volker Roeben (Eds.), International Investment Law and the Energy Transition, (pp. 129-151). Oxford: Hart Publishing. [More Information]
  • Crossley, P. (2024). From the climate change to war: The evolving role of renewable energy law and policy in meeting the EU’s energy security challenges. In R. Leal-Arcas and J. Wouter (eds) (Eds.), Research Handbook on EU Energy Law and Policy, 2nd Edition, (pp. 617-641). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. [More Information]
  • Crossley, P. (2024). The new trade wars: Future developments in investor-state disputes in the renewable energy and clean tech sectors (forthcoming). In V. Roeben and R. Kopar (eds) (Eds.), Global Energy Transition and Investment Disputes. Oxford: Hart Publishing.

Journals

  • Silver, N., Crossley, P. (2024). Using Inclusive Socratic Method to Remove Barriers to Diverse Student Engagement in Law School Classrooms. Legal Education Review, 34(2), 57-76. [More Information]
  • Crossley, P. (2022). What is 'Renewable Energy'? - Conceptualizing the Legislative Definitions of Renewable Energy. Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review, 10(3-4), 39-56.
  • Heffron, R., Connor, R., Crossley, P., Lopez-Ibor Mayor, V., Talus, K., Tomain, J. (2021). The identification and impact of justice risks to commercial risks in the energy sector: post COVID-19 and for the energy transition. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law, 39(4), 439-468. [More Information]

Edited Journals

  • Crossley, P. (2024). Contractual, Legal, and Regulatory Dynamics for Hydrogen Projects and Markets Special Issue (forthcoming). Oil, Gas and Energy Law.

Conferences

  • Silver, N., Crossley, P. (2023). Using Inclusive Socratic Method to Remove Barriers to Diverse Student Engagement in Law School Classrooms. Symposium: Equity, Equality and Legal Education, University of Adelaide: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2022). Future developments in investor-state disputes in the renewable energy and clean tech sectors. Global Energy Transition and Investment Disputes, Durham University, UK (conducted online): Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2022). Future-proofing the NEO: Options and outcomes. Presentation to the Energy Users Association of Australia, Melbourne (conducted online): Presentation.

Magazine / Newspaper Articles

  • Chester, L., Elliot, A., Crossley, P. (2018). Improving energy affordability for Australian low-income renter households, 29-32. IAEE Energy Forum. [More Information]

Report

  • Crossley, P. (2019). Issues Paper: How will the Australian and New Zealand Energy and Water Ombudsman's Schemes have to change to remain 'fit for purpose' in 2020, 2025 and 2030?.
  • Crossley, P. (2018). Review of the institutional governance arrangements of the National Electricity Market.
  • Crossley, P., Matthews, T. (2015). The impact of consultations with energy consumer advocates in the AEMC rule change process: A study of the outcomes of energy consumer advocates - For the Public Interest Advocacy Centre.

Other

  • Crossley, P. (2024), Submission to the Select Committee on Energy Planning and Regulation in Australia.
  • Crossley, P. (2024), What legal and policy lessons can be learnt from coal exporting nations for the energy transition to a low carbon future? (forthcoming) Asian Development Bank White Paper Series.
  • Crossley, P. (2024), ‘Repeating History or Charting a Strategic Course for Distributional Energy Justice? Navigating the Crossroads of Regulatory Governance in the Renewable and Distributed Energy Sectors,’ Keynote Address to the State of Energy Research Conference 2024, Curtin University, Perth.

Research Reports

  • Crossley, P., Williams, R., St John, T. (2019). What will energy consumers expect of an energy and water ombudsman scheme in 2020, 2025, and 2030?, October, (pp. 4 - 109). Sydney, Australia: University of Sydney. [More Information]
  • Crossley, P. (2017). Ensuring consumer protections for purchasers of residential battery storage systems, (pp. 1 - 87). Sydney, Australia: Public Interest Advocacy Centre Ltd..

2025

  • Crossley, P. (2025). Future Developments in Investor-State Disputes in the Renewable Energy Sector: From Fair and Equitable Treatment to the Rise of Protectionism and Sovereign Supply ? In Rahmi Kopar, Volker Roeben (Eds.), International Investment Law and the Energy Transition, (pp. 129-151). Oxford: Hart Publishing. [More Information]

2024

  • Crossley, P. (2024). Contractual, Legal, and Regulatory Dynamics for Hydrogen Projects and Markets Special Issue (forthcoming). Oil, Gas and Energy Law.
  • Crossley, P. (2024). From the climate change to war: The evolving role of renewable energy law and policy in meeting the EU’s energy security challenges. In R. Leal-Arcas and J. Wouter (eds) (Eds.), Research Handbook on EU Energy Law and Policy, 2nd Edition, (pp. 617-641). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. [More Information]
  • Crossley, P. (2024), Submission to the Select Committee on Energy Planning and Regulation in Australia.

2023

  • McDonald, B., Rolph, D., Crossley, P., Turton, G. (2023). Cases on Torts - 7th edition. Alexandria: The Federation Press.
  • Crossley, P. (2023), Submission on the NSW Government’s Going Circular on Clean Energy Paper (2023).
  • Crossley, P. (2023), The legal issues associated with decommissioning renewables: The implications for domestic manufacturing and sovereign supply,’ All Energy Conference, Melbourne. (2023).

2022

  • Crossley, P. (2022). Future developments in investor-state disputes in the renewable energy and clean tech sectors. Global Energy Transition and Investment Disputes, Durham University, UK (conducted online): Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2022). Future-proofing the NEO: Options and outcomes. Presentation to the Energy Users Association of Australia, Melbourne (conducted online): Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2022). How does the increased risk of climatic extremes and emergencies impact on the rules and policies governing the Australian National Electricity Market? Energy Research and Social Sciences Conference, University of Manchester, UK: Presentation.

2021

  • Crossley, P. (2021). Alternative Sources of Compensation for Personal Injuries. In D. Rolph, J. Varuhas, P. Crossley, M. Douglas (Eds.), Balkin & Davis: Law of Torts - 6th Edition, (pp. 515-536). Sydney: LexisNexis.
  • Rolph, D., Varuhas, J., Crossley, P., Douglas, M. (2021). Balkin and Davis Law of Torts - 6th Edition. Sydney: LexisNexis.
  • Crossley, P. (2021). Current regulatory debates in the Australian energy sector. Powering the Future: Emerging Issues in the Renewables/Green Energy and Mining Sectors, Centre for International Sustainable Development Law, New York, United States: Presentation.

2020

  • Crossley, P. (2020). Australian Electricity Law and Policy in a Time of Energy Market Transition, National Emergency and Climate Crisis. In T. Oyewunmi, P. Crossley, F. Sourgens and K. Talus (Eds.), Decarbonisation and the Energy Industry: Law, Policy and Regulation in Low-Carbon Energy Markets, (pp. 337-352). Oxford: Hart Publishing. [More Information]
  • Crossley, P., Alvarez, G. (2020). Concluding Thoughts on the Global Energy Transition. In T. Hunter Soliman, I. Herrara Anchustegui, P. Crossley and G. Alvarez (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Energy Law, (pp. 598-610). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
  • Oyewunmi, T., Crossley, P., Talus, K., Sourgens, F. (2020). Conclusion: An Exposition of a Contextual Approach to Energy and Decarbonisation. In T. Oyewunmi, P. Crossley, F. Sourgens and K. Talus (Eds.), Decarbonisation and the Energy Industry: Law, Policy and Regulation in Low-Carbon Energy Markets, (pp. 401-408). Oxford: Hart Publishing. [More Information]

2019

  • Crossley, P. (2019). A new regulatory model? Considerations for future end-to-end market designs. Future Electricity Summit hosted by the International Energy Agency, Energy Security Board and the ANU Energy Change Institute, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2019). Best Practice in Consumer Protection - Rights, Responsibilities and Remedies. All-Energy Conference Solar Masterclass, Melbourne, Vic: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2019). Developments in Australian and International Renewable Energy Law. Smart Energy Conference, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.

2018

  • Crossley, P. (2018). Energy Regulation in the Era of Energy 4.0. Evolving Global Energy and Resource Landscape: Law, Policy and Economics, Dundee, Scotland, UK: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2018). How will energy market design and the regulatory approaches adopted have to change in the era of Energy 4.0? Florence School of Regulation 2nd Young Researcher Seminar, Florence, Italy: Presentation.
  • Chester, L., Elliot, A., Crossley, P. (2018). Improving energy affordability for Australian low-income renter households, 29-32. IAEE Energy Forum. [More Information]

2017

  • Davies, L., Crossley, P., Connor, P., Park, S., Shaw-Hughes, S. (2017). Climate Regulation of the Electricity Industry: A Comparative View from Australia, Great Britain, South Korea, and the United States. South Carolina Journal of International Law and Business, 13(2), 109-193.
  • Crossley, P. (2017). Ensuring consumer protections for purchasers of residential battery storage systems, (pp. 1 - 87). Sydney, Australia: Public Interest Advocacy Centre Ltd..
  • Crossley, P. (2017). Keynote address to the Annual General Meeting of the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI). Annual General Meeting of the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI), Melbourne, Australia: ABRI.

2016

  • Crossley, P. (2016). Conceptualising legislative definitions of renewable energy. Energy Transitions: Regulation of Energy Markets at National, European and International Levels Conference 2016, Joensuu, Finland: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2016). Developments in International Renewable Energy Law. Australian Clean Energy Summit 2016, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2016). Ensuring consumer protection and avoiding warranty litigation: The lessons for energy storage from consumer litigation in the US electric vehicle market. Sydney Law School Research Seminar, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.

2015

  • Crossley, P. (2015). Invited keynote presentation - Energy Storage in Australia: The market, opportunities for growth and regulatory challenges. 6th International Energy Storage and Microgrid Conference 2015: Chinese National Energy Storage Alliance, Yantai, China: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2015). Invited presentation - Flexibility, certainty and federalism: Challenges for the governance of Australia's electricity industry. School of Photovoltaic Solar and Renewable Energy Engineering and the Centre for Energy and Environmental Markets: University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2015). Invited presentation - The institutional governance of the National Electricity Market: A consumer's perspective. Energy Users Association of Australia (EUAA) National Conference 2015: Powering Towards 2020, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.

2014

  • Crossley, P. (2014). Energy Sovereignty or Regulatory Competition? North East Asian Renewable Energy Regulation. Sydney Law School - National University of Singapore Symposium 2014, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2014). Invited presentation - The legal challenges and policy obstacles to the use of residential battery storage applications for renewables. International Renewable Energy Agency's Expert Workshop on Energy Storage - Tokyo 2014, Tokyo, Japan: Presentation.

2013

  • Crossley, P. (2013). Defining the Greatest Legal and Policy Obstacle to "Energy Storage". Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review, 2013 (4), 268-281.
  • Crossley, P. (2013). Designing Sustainable Development? The Effectiveness of PV Solar Regulation in Australia and China. Asia Pacific Journal of Environmental Law, 15(1), 1-15.
  • Crossley, P. (2013). Energy Sovereignty or Regulatory Competition? North East Asian Renewable Energy Regulation in the Post Global Financial Crisis Era. Energy Transitions: Regulation of Energy Markets at National, European and International Levels Conference, Joensuu, Finland: Presentation.

2012

  • Crossley, P. (2012). Defining the greatest legal obstacle to energy storage. Energy Storage Network Conference 2012, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2012), Draft Energy White Paper - Strengthening the Foundation for Australia's Energy Future.
  • Crossley, P. (2012), Draft NSW Planning Guidelines for Wind Farms.

2011

  • Crossley, P. (2011). Designing sustainable development? The regulatory effectiveness of photovoltaic solar feed-in tariffs in Australia and China. 4th International Congress of Environmental Research (ICER-11), Surat, Gujarat, India: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2011). Is the law of private nuisance a barrier to the winds of change? Sydney Law School Postgraduate Conference 2011, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
  • Crossley, P. (2011). Private Nuisance: An ill wind for wind energy projects? Torts Law Journal, 19(2), 135-152.

2010

  • Crossley, P., Curley, M., Pickett, J. (2010). Legislacion sobre energias renovables en el Reino Unido [Renewable Energy Law in the United Kingdom]. In Fernando Becker, Julian Martinez-Simancas, Luis Maria Cazorla (Eds.), Tratado De Energias Renovables: Volumen II [Renewable Energy Treaty: Volume 2], (pp. 457-492). Spain: IBERDROLA and Thomson-Aranzadi.

Selected Grants

2024

  • Circular clean energy regulation to solve the PV solar waste crisis, Crossley P, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA)

2022

  • Regulating for resources: Regulating the battery lifecycle so that they can safely become a feedstock for new products - with industry partner Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (on behalf of its NSW members), Battery Pollution and LCC Asia Pacific, Crossley P, Investment NSW/Boosting Business Innovation Program

In the media

Interviewed for create magazine piece on solar cell recycling:Setting sun: Solving Australia's solar e-waste problem - create digital