NEAC supports Scenarios for Future Living

A new project is uncovering how Australians really use energy now, and how we would want to use energy in the future.

Scenarios for Future Living is a three-year research project to provide a more plausible and people-centred understanding of how Australians will live and interact with energy in the years to come.

Energy analytics researchers and social scientists from Monash University, University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney and CSIRO are joining forces. They will combine household-level energy information with residential monitoring and advanced modelling, to generate unparalleled insights into the impact of emerging technologies and changing lifestyles on energy consumption patterns.

CSIRO’s National Energy Analysis Centre (NEAC) is supporting the Scenarios for Future Living project. We are installing energy metering and environmental monitoring in 40 homes to get a better understanding of energy use for different times of day, ambient situations, house types and appliance types. This project will be the first use of NEAC’s Living Lab, and will help us to test and tune our research processes.

We will combine the data from our participants and other Scenarios for Future Living cohorts, and analyse it using the Model-Based Systems Engineering model that is the backbone of NEAC’s data nexus.

Dr John Gardner and Dr Stephen Snow are working with the NEAC team and the project leaders from the other research partner institutions to activate the research.

“The energy system has been set up to suit the stability of the electricity grid, not necessarily what suits people. The Scenarios for Future Living project is looking for people-first solutions to energy supply, stability and cost,” John said.

“For example, time of use tariffs mean that electricity is more expensive during peak times, with the aim that people will use their appliances at different times where possible. We don’t know whether people really change their behaviour based on tariffs, but we know that not everyone is able to do so.  Let’s find the best solutions for people, and work with Australian households to find out how they want to interact with energy in the future”.

The findings will help policy makers, planners and industry to develop future-focused products and services.

We are now looking for homes to participate. If you would like to express interest in participating, read the information page then express interest!

This research is funded by the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre in partnership with Monash University, University of New South Wales, University Technology Sydney, CSIRO, Ausgrid, Citipower, Powercor, United Energy, Red Energy, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (Victoria).