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All systems go for Smart Energy

With the help of our supporters and the internal CSIRO team, Smart Energy has made great progress in the last few months and is now poised to create the National Energy Analysis Centre (read the update) as well as a number of collaborative projects to empower Australian energy consumers, digitalise the energy system, and guide and de-risk energy transition pathways.

You’ve probably heard us talking about Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE), and our plans to use the technique as a foundation for the National Energy Analysis Centre. In this newsletter we explain the importance of Model-Based System Engineering for the Australian energy transition, and how the Australian chapter of the Global Power Systems Transformation (G-PST) have demonstrated its value.

We have been lucky to be working with a number of like-minded institutions in the UK, including the Energy Systems Catapult who run a Living Lab for energy. Following his recent visit to the land that gave us fish and chips, Stephen has shared what he thinks we can learn from them about the consumer side of the energy transition.

Part of the consumer side challenge is equity for all users, including the most vulnerable in our community. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has recently released for consultation a new framework for governments and retailers implementing energy hardship programs. Our Empowerment Lead, John Gardner, is part of the research team that developed the framework and is keen for stakeholders to provide feedback before it closes on 18 October.

Keeping up the dialogue

In the last few months we have talked with stakeholders at:

  • a Pearcey Foundation event titled ‘Open Data Architecture for Energy’, hosted by CSIRO on 3 September
  • a webinar on 19 September when RACE for 2030 CRC released their report ‘Consumer Energy Unleashed’, with Smart Energy Lead Stephen Craig part of the expert panel 
  • the first Energy Futures stream at the 2024 Systems Evaluation and Test conference 23-25 September

We would love to hear what you think of the news in this newsletter, or any feedback about our work. Please feel free to contact us at CSIROSmartEnergy@csiro.au.

From the Smart Energy team

We are building the National Energy Analysis Centre

We are now developing the foundations of the National Energy Analysis Centre (NEAC) to test the recruitment processes, and safe data collection systems.

Energy equity guide released for feedback

A new framework for governments and retailers implementing energy hardship programs is currently out for consultation.

Model-Based Systems Engineering for energy

Why MBSE is so important to the Australian energy transition

Professor Amro Farid explains the principles of MBSE and why the discipline will help the energy transition to proceed more smoothly.

Model Based Systems Engineering proves its worth in demonstration

Researchers have gleaned powerful insights after producing a model of a portion of Australia’s electricity network using MBSE, for the Global Power System Transformation initiative.

Consumer-centric energy research

Apartment Energy Behaviour Study

CSIRO has just started recruiting apartment dwellers in Melbourne, Sydney and south-east Queensland for an in-depth energy consumption behaviour study that will help to test assumptions in the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).

Aussie attitudes to the renewable energy transition

Our survey of more than 6700 Australians found that their top priority was more affordable energy for everyone, followed by increasing Australia’s energy self-reliance and reducing carbon emissions.

What we can learn from the Brits about the consumer side of the energy transition

CSIRO has partnered with United Kingdon Research and Innovation to increase research and innovation impact. Stephen Craig outlines what he believes we can learn from various UK organisations in the energy transition research space.

Learn more