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Shaping Australia’s Energy Future

The Scenarios for Future Living project is reimagining how we plan for energy in Australia.

About the project

By integrating real-world consumer foresight, emerging technology trends, and innovative forecasting tools, we’re helping the energy sector make smarter, people-centred decisions.

Our research explores how households and businesses will use energy in the future – ensuring that new policies, products, and services align with the evolving needs of diverse communities. Through new foresighting methods, scenario planning, advanced modelling, and design innovation, we’re paving the way for an energy system that is resilient, equitable, and future-ready.

The Scenarios for Future Living (SFL) project is part of the RACE (Reliable Affordable Clean Energy) for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre. 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).

Visit the RACE for 2030 website

Work packages

The Scenarios for Future Living project is structured around seven interconnected Work Packages (WPs), each addressing critical challenges in the evolving energy landscape.

Through these work packages, the project will ensure scalable, impactful, and long-lasting contributions to Australia’s energy transition.

WP1: Understanding how people use energy

We will deliver real-world foresights into how diverse households and home businesses will interact with energy in the future – tracking changing expectations, and analysing the impact of future everyday life values and practices to guide industry and policy decisions.

WP2: Anticipating emerging technologies

From smart home innovations to next-gen energy solutions, we’re analysing new technologies and industry trends to understand their potential impact on energy use in homes and businesses.

WP3: Developing future energy scenarios

Using social and design research, technology trends and climate science to create Scenarios for Future Living – rich, evidence-based narratives that help industry and government plan for plausible energy futures.

WP4: Advancing energy forecasting tools

Designing new modelling tools and processes that integrate real-world social trends into energy sector planning, ensuring more accurate predictions and better decision-making.

WP5: Designing people-centred energy solutions

Exploring how new energy products and services can align with people’s evolving needs – helping deliver a low-cost, net-zero future while ensuring fair access for all consumers.

WP6: Leading Australian Energy Transition Workshops

Bringing together energy experts, industry leaders, and policymakers to expand the scope of energy foresighting and ensure that future planning reflects the realities of everyday energy users.

WP7: Scaling and sustaining knowledge

Through collaboration with CSIRO’s National Energy Analysis Centre (NEAC), we’re extending the impact and longevity of our research – integrating new insights into national energy planning.