About NEAC
Why do we need NEAC?
Transforming our heavily intertwined, carbon-heavy energy systems to achieve net zero emissions within a few decades is a huge challenge. It’s not just about introducing new technologies; success depends on how we bring together various factors like technology, regulations, economics, and environmental and social considerations into a dynamic and interconnected system that evolves over time.
Modern systems science offers the tools we need to structure, guide, and reduce the risks involved in complex socio-technical system design and transformation, such as the energy transition. NEAC will catalyse the energy transformation, foster innovation, and unlock greater societal benefits.
The benefits of NEAC
Integrating energy sectors: Traditionally, energy sectors like electricity, heat, hydrogen, natural gas, oil, and coal have operated in isolation. But now, as we undertake this massive transformation, they must work together. Additionally, we need to respect practical constraints like carbon emissions, water usage, climate impact, and more as we evolve.
Empowering energy consumers: Gone are the days when energy consumers were passive recipients of services from infrastructure operators. Now, they must be empowered to actively engage in the transformation process. Consumer energy resources are becoming increasingly vital components of the overall energy system.
Leveraging digitalisation: The widespread use of digital technology can significantly ease the challenges of this transformation. By coordinating operations efficiently, we can maximise the use of assets, reduce operating costs, and ensure system reliability.
Promoting open science and collaboration: To tackle this complex issue, we must streamline and democratise analytical capabilities. This means embracing open-science principles and collaborating across ecosystems, drawing on the latest in digital and systems science.
NEAC will equip Australia with a reliable and collaborative platform for multi-energy systems data and research. By putting people at the heart of the energy transformation, it will empower decision-makers, spur innovation, and drive progress for all.
NEAC will champion independence and transparency, fostering a more informed and empowered society.
Components of NEAC
Central to the NEAC experience will be its insights platform, serving as the primary interface for users. This platform will orchestrate the various components of NEAC, notably the Living Lab and the Data Nexus:
The Living Lab will serve as a dynamic ecosystem, comprising thousands of real people across homes and businesses, dedicated to testing new energy innovations – from products and services to business models.
Our Living Lab will streamline the process of conducting inclusive trials, enabling swift access to invaluable social and technical insights garnered from real-world environments. By tackling locally relevant challenges, we not only bolster local credentials but also contribute to the development of national standards, ensuring the interoperability of local outcomes at a national level.
Emphasising privacy, the Living Lab will operate as a distinct entity within NEAC, complete with its own robust data management infrastructure, APIs, and access controls.
Data Nexus and Insights Platform
The Data Nexus will amalgamate rich, curated datasets in a coherent multi-energy systems science framework. It will bring together high-use energy and related data assets, making them open for use and adaptation by researchers. The Data Nexus will include a layer of access management, storage, and API provisioning to ensure security and accessibility.
The Insights Platform will provide powerful analytical software, workflow tools and spatiotemporal visualisations. It will facilitate deep system insights, analytics and knowledge sharing on Australia’s holistic energy transformation.
NEAC is noncompetitive
NEAC will serve as a versatile tool, augmenting and streamlining existing analytical processes. It will offer an open reference architecture that seamlessly integrates multi-energy systems with other complex systems, empowering stakeholders with a holistic decision-making capability.
Crucially, NEAC will operate collaboratively, eschewing competition in favour of addressing market failures and inefficiencies. By fostering interdisciplinary connections, NEAC provides a panoramic view of outcomes and impacts, facilitating informed decision-making across sectors and disciplines.