Scenarios for Future Living
The Scenarios for Future Living (SFL) project is part of the RACE (Reliable Affordable Clean Energy) for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre. [https://racefor2030.com.au/SFL] SFL is a collaborative project across 4 research partners (Monash, UNSW, UTS and CSIRO) and key industry partners (Ausgrid; Citipower, Powercor, and United Energy; Red Energy; NSW DCCEEW; and VIC DEECA).
SFL will enhance decision-making within the Australian energy sector by integrating qualitative research findings on social trends, consumer expectations, and emerging technologies into scenario-based energy modeling and forecasting. Recognizing that energy consumption patterns are shaped not only by technologies but also by people’s everyday lives, the project will develop innovative tools, models, and scenarios that will better integrate diverse households and home businesses. By investigating how consumer energy resources (CER) and emerging technologies are, and are likely to be, used over time, the project will develop a more socially responsive understanding of energy futures. This approach will help the energy sector anticipate shifts in household and home business energy practices due to factors such as extreme weather events, remote work trends, and changing health and safety concerns.
“As well as having households and home businesses provide personal insights at the core of the research, a range of industry partners and advisors on this project provide us with perspectives from every part of the energy ecosystem. This project truly demonstrates RACE for 2030’s capabilities of bringing industry and research together to anticipate challenges, and overcome them in order to decarbonise Australia.” said Dr Bill Lilley, CEO of RACE for 2030
A key component of the project involves developing a range of plausible future scenarios that account for the changing expectations and practices of Australian households and home businesses. These scenarios will be revised and expanded based on ongoing qualitative ethnographic research with households and home businesses and insights from emerging technology, social, and political trends. The project will also develop advanced modeling tools and processes to support the energy industry in preparing for potential shifts in consumer demand and infrastructure needs that the social research-based scenarios reveal. Additionally, the project will explore speculative product and service designs that align with future energy trends, offering expanded possibilities that could help shape or respond to emerging scenarios. Through these efforts, the project aims to build industry capacity in new energy planning approaches through its Australian Energy Transition Forum.
Project Leads
Professor Yolande Strengers, Professor Iain McGill
Chief Investigators, Work Package leads and Key Researchers:
Monash
Professor Sarah Pink, Dr. Kari Dahlgren, Dr. Fareed Kaviani, Dr. Ron Ben-David
UNSW
Associate Professor Anna Bruce, Dr Rob Passey, Dr Dylan McConnell, Dr Mike Roberts
UTS
Professor Chris Riedy, Professor Abby Mellick Lopes, Professor Cameron Tonkinwise, Dr Chris Briggs
CSIRO
Dr John Gardner, Professor Amro M. Farid, Dr Thomas Brinsmead, Dr Stephen Snow, Matt Shepit
About RACE for 2030 CRC
The Reliable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre (RACE for 2030) is a 10-year, $350 million Australian research collaboration involving industry, research, government and other stakeholders. Its mission is to drive innovation for a secure, affordable, clean energy future.
See racefor2030.com.au for more information.
Research Project Partners
Monash University, UNSW, UTS, CSIRO
Industry Partners
Ausgrid, Citipower/Powercor/ United Energy, Red Energy, NSW DCCEEW, VIC DEECA
Industry Reference Group members
Commonwealth DCCEEW, Australian Energy Regulator, Australian Energy Market Operator, Australian Energy Market Commission, Energy Consumers Australia, AIRAH, St Vincent de Paul, Energesis