Work Package 5: People-centred products and services

Designing energy solutions for real people

As Australia’s energy transition accelerates, households and businesses will need new energy products, services, and systems that align with evolving lifestyles, technologies, and expectations. This work package explores how energy organisations can co-design innovative solutions with diverse communities to ensure a fair, flexible, and sustainable future energy system.

Leads

Key researchers

Key research questions

  • How can energy service organisations collaborate with households and communities to drive innovation?
  • What new energy products and services will be needed as household practices and expectations evolve?
  • How can we better design energy solutions for vulnerable consumers, including those experiencing situational energy challenges?
  • What energy solutions can encourage greater flexibility, distributed generation, and storage, supporting both households and grid resilience?
  • How can demand management strategies, policies, and incentives support consumers in transitioning to new energy practices?

Our approach

WP5 entails the development of speculative products and services which will be explored and tested with researchers, industry leaders and households in a collaborative design process. This process ensures that innovations emerging from WP5 are grounded in real-world experiences and practical for industry implementation.

Research methods

  • Energy practices design studio – A creative research lab where design students and researchers develop prototypes and speculative designs that reflect emerging energy trends from WP1, WP2, WP3, and WP4.
  • Co-design workshops – Engaging industry partners and households to explore inclusive and responsive energy innovations.
  • Living lab testing – Households participating in WP1's longitudinal ethnographic research will trial prototypes of energy services and products, offering real-world feedback.
  • Industry collaboration and training – Partnering with energy organisations to embed design-driven innovation in their transition strategies, including the development of training toolkits and resources.

Key outputs

  • Prototypes and living lab testing – Outcomes from co-design workshops will be integrated into WP1's research reports.
  • Energy Futures Exhibition – A physical and digital showcase of energy speculative design products and services, featured at major industry events such as Energy Consumers Australia’s Foresighting Forum.
  • Toolkits and guidebooks – Resources to help energy industry organisations implement people-centred transition design in their innovation strategies.

WP5 ensures that future energy products and services are practical, inclusive, and aligned with evolving household needs, helping build a resilient, consumer-driven energy future.