Policy, Markets and Consumers

City Futures Research Centre spans the interrelated areas of urban planning, housing, health and well-being, urban development and urban policy. All are underpinned by high-level GIS-enabled urban big-data analytics and modelling.

Energy and Environmental Markets is a Centre devoted to studying the challenges and opportunities of clean energy transition within market-oriented electricity industries. Key aspects of this transition are the integration of large-scale renewable technologies and distributed energy technologies (generation, storage and ‘smart’ loads) into the electricity industry.

Conducting interdisciplinary policy analysis and design—including carbon pricing, renewable energy and energy efficiency certificate schemes, reverse auctions, tariff design and other policy mechanisms—across the technology lifecycle to help determine the trajectory and cost of clean energy transitions, and the impacts on different stakeholders.

Although there is a variety of technologies and market design features that can assist with the integration of large-scale Variable Renewable Energy (VRE), delivering reliable and low-cost electricity through the transition will require new approaches to planning, operation and market reform.

The development of new market-oriented energy systems and mechanisms for future active distribution systems, to respond to the needs and requirements that the increased penetration of distributed energy resources place on the distribution network.

Expertise in uncertainty modelling, risk analysis and asset valuation on energy generating and storage facilities that are subject to operational constraints, investment flexibility, and market uncertainties.

A strategic and academically rigorous approach to regulatory analysis and design with a focus on best governance practice, to ensure that regulatory responses are robust and evidence-based.

Rising energy costs, limited access to low-energy appliances and poor-quality housing has left many low-income families having to sacrifice daily essentials and social connections in order to keep a roof over their heads. It is a problem that requires strong political leadership and the support of community programs to solve.

Energy Poverty is a serious problem for our society and puts the lives of vulnerable and low-income households under threat. Fighting it means developing appropriate low-cost technologies and combining them with advanced monitoring technologies.

Research to chart the legal and regulatory pathways that will influence the transition to a more sustainable energy regime—notably the choice of technology and its impacts on climate, water, food and society, and how the competing goals of energy security and environmental sustainability will be managed.

Developing a masterplan for the implementation of a zero net emissions climate transition that combines the best mitigation options with a focus on social justice.

Modern and intelligent building technologies and design that minimise the energy consumption of commercial and residential buildings in order to improve efficiency, reduce cost and save lives.

There is strong government appetite to increase the capacity of the affordable housing sector in Australia through new construction, redevelopment and management transfer programs. While assistance programs to raise energy efficiency do already exist, barriers continue to constrain the full potential of industry to deliver outcomes.

Developing advanced reflective cool materials for buildings and cities that significantly decrease the demand for cooling buildings and counterbalance the impact of urban overheating.

Making zero-energy buildings a reality through the development of technology and design procedures that optimise energy conservation and the use of renewable energy, while delivering the best possible thermal and visual comfort and environmental quality for all who work or live in them.

Developing schemes to manage the power requirements of solar-powered street furniture—such as traffic/warning signs, street lights, interactive street screens, smart bins, park benches for charging mobile devices, home furniture or pavements with integrated solar panels—to ensure it is self-sustaining and integrated with energy storage.

Energy efficient buildings, Building Integrated and Building Applied PV/energy systems for low energy buildings and highly efficient fluid handling systems.

Developing advanced mitigation technologies that combat the need for increased energy consumption in cities to cope with local and global climate change.