Latest news with #LivingLab
The Advertiser
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Wanted: 10,000 households to plug in to energy research
More than 10,000 Australian households and businesses will be asked to share ways they generate and use electricity for research to accelerate the net-zero transition. The nation's science agency CSIRO on Thursday launched the National Energy Analysis Centre that will capture real-world energy use, which has been modelled on a similar body in the UK. The centre will also team with universities, electricity retailers and others to model future demands on the national grid. The announcement comes amid change in the Australian energy market, with household demand for solar panels and energy storage primed for growth by the recent launch of the $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Research into electricity and gas use has been "piecemeal" despite significant investment in the energy market and policy changes, the centre's director Stephen Craig said. Individual research efforts such as Saul Griffith's Electrify 2515 pilot project have probed the market, he said, but Australia is yet to collect broad energy data on a national basis. "What we haven't had is the consistent, enduring capability so you can follow trends over time, you can compare apples with apples if you're doing different types of research and trials," Dr Craig told AAP. "What we want to do is get an understanding of how energy is used today, how energy flows in the household and small businesses as well, but also get a handle on what people like and don't like." The centre aims to recruit 1000 participants in its first year and ultimately reach 10,000 households and businesses throughout Australia, he said, similar to the Living Lab in the UK. The Australian centre would also develop energy system modelling, analysis and visualisation tools to assist research. Along with analysing a wide range of households, Dr Craig said it would be important to assess the use of solar panels, electric vehicles and household batteries because they could take pressure off the national grid. "There's more and more of the energy system in the hands of households," he said. "We don't want to under-build because then we may not have a robust system but we don't want to overbuild either, so to have better data on how people are using energy and want to use energy is helpful." Households that participate will share anonymous data from their electricity meter as well as temperature and humidity readings from inside their home, and could be invited to take part in specialty projects. Newcastle participant Heath Raftery said he signed up to discover ways to reduce his family's energy bills, but also to ensure households like his were considered in future policies. "I'm a renter so there's not much I can do infrastructure-wise but having input ... will help governments and providers to consider the third of the population that is renting," he said. The centre is already collaborating on projects with Endeavour Energy and the Race for 2030 co-operative research centre. More than 10,000 Australian households and businesses will be asked to share ways they generate and use electricity for research to accelerate the net-zero transition. The nation's science agency CSIRO on Thursday launched the National Energy Analysis Centre that will capture real-world energy use, which has been modelled on a similar body in the UK. The centre will also team with universities, electricity retailers and others to model future demands on the national grid. The announcement comes amid change in the Australian energy market, with household demand for solar panels and energy storage primed for growth by the recent launch of the $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Research into electricity and gas use has been "piecemeal" despite significant investment in the energy market and policy changes, the centre's director Stephen Craig said. Individual research efforts such as Saul Griffith's Electrify 2515 pilot project have probed the market, he said, but Australia is yet to collect broad energy data on a national basis. "What we haven't had is the consistent, enduring capability so you can follow trends over time, you can compare apples with apples if you're doing different types of research and trials," Dr Craig told AAP. "What we want to do is get an understanding of how energy is used today, how energy flows in the household and small businesses as well, but also get a handle on what people like and don't like." The centre aims to recruit 1000 participants in its first year and ultimately reach 10,000 households and businesses throughout Australia, he said, similar to the Living Lab in the UK. The Australian centre would also develop energy system modelling, analysis and visualisation tools to assist research. Along with analysing a wide range of households, Dr Craig said it would be important to assess the use of solar panels, electric vehicles and household batteries because they could take pressure off the national grid. "There's more and more of the energy system in the hands of households," he said. "We don't want to under-build because then we may not have a robust system but we don't want to overbuild either, so to have better data on how people are using energy and want to use energy is helpful." Households that participate will share anonymous data from their electricity meter as well as temperature and humidity readings from inside their home, and could be invited to take part in specialty projects. Newcastle participant Heath Raftery said he signed up to discover ways to reduce his family's energy bills, but also to ensure households like his were considered in future policies. "I'm a renter so there's not much I can do infrastructure-wise but having input ... will help governments and providers to consider the third of the population that is renting," he said. The centre is already collaborating on projects with Endeavour Energy and the Race for 2030 co-operative research centre. More than 10,000 Australian households and businesses will be asked to share ways they generate and use electricity for research to accelerate the net-zero transition. The nation's science agency CSIRO on Thursday launched the National Energy Analysis Centre that will capture real-world energy use, which has been modelled on a similar body in the UK. The centre will also team with universities, electricity retailers and others to model future demands on the national grid. The announcement comes amid change in the Australian energy market, with household demand for solar panels and energy storage primed for growth by the recent launch of the $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Research into electricity and gas use has been "piecemeal" despite significant investment in the energy market and policy changes, the centre's director Stephen Craig said. Individual research efforts such as Saul Griffith's Electrify 2515 pilot project have probed the market, he said, but Australia is yet to collect broad energy data on a national basis. "What we haven't had is the consistent, enduring capability so you can follow trends over time, you can compare apples with apples if you're doing different types of research and trials," Dr Craig told AAP. "What we want to do is get an understanding of how energy is used today, how energy flows in the household and small businesses as well, but also get a handle on what people like and don't like." The centre aims to recruit 1000 participants in its first year and ultimately reach 10,000 households and businesses throughout Australia, he said, similar to the Living Lab in the UK. The Australian centre would also develop energy system modelling, analysis and visualisation tools to assist research. Along with analysing a wide range of households, Dr Craig said it would be important to assess the use of solar panels, electric vehicles and household batteries because they could take pressure off the national grid. "There's more and more of the energy system in the hands of households," he said. "We don't want to under-build because then we may not have a robust system but we don't want to overbuild either, so to have better data on how people are using energy and want to use energy is helpful." Households that participate will share anonymous data from their electricity meter as well as temperature and humidity readings from inside their home, and could be invited to take part in specialty projects. Newcastle participant Heath Raftery said he signed up to discover ways to reduce his family's energy bills, but also to ensure households like his were considered in future policies. "I'm a renter so there's not much I can do infrastructure-wise but having input ... will help governments and providers to consider the third of the population that is renting," he said. The centre is already collaborating on projects with Endeavour Energy and the Race for 2030 co-operative research centre. More than 10,000 Australian households and businesses will be asked to share ways they generate and use electricity for research to accelerate the net-zero transition. The nation's science agency CSIRO on Thursday launched the National Energy Analysis Centre that will capture real-world energy use, which has been modelled on a similar body in the UK. The centre will also team with universities, electricity retailers and others to model future demands on the national grid. The announcement comes amid change in the Australian energy market, with household demand for solar panels and energy storage primed for growth by the recent launch of the $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Research into electricity and gas use has been "piecemeal" despite significant investment in the energy market and policy changes, the centre's director Stephen Craig said. Individual research efforts such as Saul Griffith's Electrify 2515 pilot project have probed the market, he said, but Australia is yet to collect broad energy data on a national basis. "What we haven't had is the consistent, enduring capability so you can follow trends over time, you can compare apples with apples if you're doing different types of research and trials," Dr Craig told AAP. "What we want to do is get an understanding of how energy is used today, how energy flows in the household and small businesses as well, but also get a handle on what people like and don't like." The centre aims to recruit 1000 participants in its first year and ultimately reach 10,000 households and businesses throughout Australia, he said, similar to the Living Lab in the UK. The Australian centre would also develop energy system modelling, analysis and visualisation tools to assist research. Along with analysing a wide range of households, Dr Craig said it would be important to assess the use of solar panels, electric vehicles and household batteries because they could take pressure off the national grid. "There's more and more of the energy system in the hands of households," he said. "We don't want to under-build because then we may not have a robust system but we don't want to overbuild either, so to have better data on how people are using energy and want to use energy is helpful." Households that participate will share anonymous data from their electricity meter as well as temperature and humidity readings from inside their home, and could be invited to take part in specialty projects. Newcastle participant Heath Raftery said he signed up to discover ways to reduce his family's energy bills, but also to ensure households like his were considered in future policies. "I'm a renter so there's not much I can do infrastructure-wise but having input ... will help governments and providers to consider the third of the population that is renting," he said. The centre is already collaborating on projects with Endeavour Energy and the Race for 2030 co-operative research centre.
West Australian
16-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Wanted: 10,000 households to plug in to energy research
More than 10,000 Australian households and businesses will be asked to share ways they generate and use electricity for research to accelerate the net-zero transition. The nation's science agency CSIRO on Thursday launched the National Energy Analysis Centre that will capture real-world energy use, which has been modelled on a similar body in the UK. The centre will also team with universities, electricity retailers and others to model future demands on the national grid. The announcement comes amid change in the Australian energy market, with household demand for solar panels and energy storage primed for growth by the recent launch of the $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Research into electricity and gas use has been "piecemeal" despite significant investment in the energy market and policy changes, the centre's director Stephen Craig said. Individual research efforts such as Saul Griffith's Electrify 2515 pilot project have probed the market, he said, but Australia is yet to collect broad energy data on a national basis. "What we haven't had is the consistent, enduring capability so you can follow trends over time, you can compare apples with apples if you're doing different types of research and trials," Dr Craig told AAP. "What we want to do is get an understanding of how energy is used today, how energy flows in the household and small businesses as well, but also get a handle on what people like and don't like." The centre aims to recruit 1000 participants in its first year and ultimately reach 10,000 households and businesses throughout Australia, he said, similar to the Living Lab in the UK. The Australian centre would also develop energy system modelling, analysis and visualisation tools to assist research. Along with analysing a wide range of households, Dr Craig said it would be important to assess the use of solar panels, electric vehicles and household batteries because they could take pressure off the national grid. "There's more and more of the energy system in the hands of households," he said. "We don't want to under-build because then we may not have a robust system but we don't want to overbuild either, so to have better data on how people are using energy and want to use energy is helpful." Households that participate will share anonymous data from their electricity meter as well as temperature and humidity readings from inside their home, and could be invited to take part in specialty projects. Newcastle participant Heath Raftery said he signed up to discover ways to reduce his family's energy bills, but also to ensure households like his were considered in future policies. "I'm a renter so there's not much I can do infrastructure-wise but having input ... will help governments and providers to consider the third of the population that is renting," he said. The centre is already collaborating on projects with Endeavour Energy and the Race for 2030 co-operative research centre.
Perth Now
16-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Wanted: 10,000 households to plug in to energy research
More than 10,000 Australian households and businesses will be asked to share ways they generate and use electricity for research to accelerate the net-zero transition. The nation's science agency CSIRO on Thursday launched the National Energy Analysis Centre that will capture real-world energy use, which has been modelled on a similar body in the UK. The centre will also team with universities, electricity retailers and others to model future demands on the national grid. The announcement comes amid change in the Australian energy market, with household demand for solar panels and energy storage primed for growth by the recent launch of the $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Research into electricity and gas use has been "piecemeal" despite significant investment in the energy market and policy changes, the centre's director Stephen Craig said. Individual research efforts such as Saul Griffith's Electrify 2515 pilot project have probed the market, he said, but Australia is yet to collect broad energy data on a national basis. "What we haven't had is the consistent, enduring capability so you can follow trends over time, you can compare apples with apples if you're doing different types of research and trials," Dr Craig told AAP. "What we want to do is get an understanding of how energy is used today, how energy flows in the household and small businesses as well, but also get a handle on what people like and don't like." The centre aims to recruit 1000 participants in its first year and ultimately reach 10,000 households and businesses throughout Australia, he said, similar to the Living Lab in the UK. The Australian centre would also develop energy system modelling, analysis and visualisation tools to assist research. Along with analysing a wide range of households, Dr Craig said it would be important to assess the use of solar panels, electric vehicles and household batteries because they could take pressure off the national grid. "There's more and more of the energy system in the hands of households," he said. "We don't want to under-build because then we may not have a robust system but we don't want to overbuild either, so to have better data on how people are using energy and want to use energy is helpful." Households that participate will share anonymous data from their electricity meter as well as temperature and humidity readings from inside their home, and could be invited to take part in specialty projects. Newcastle participant Heath Raftery said he signed up to discover ways to reduce his family's energy bills, but also to ensure households like his were considered in future policies. "I'm a renter so there's not much I can do infrastructure-wise but having input ... will help governments and providers to consider the third of the population that is renting," he said. The centre is already collaborating on projects with Endeavour Energy and the Race for 2030 co-operative research centre.
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Rebuilding Kampung Iboi must go beyond repairs, says expert
BALING: Rebuilding disaster-hit areas near Kampung Iboi must go beyond repairing what was lost — it must reimagine the future through bold, community-driven, resilient recovery efforts, says a leading geoscience expert. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Centre director Dr Khamarrul Azahari Razak said sites like the Lata Celak recreational park near the village have untapped potential to be transformed into integrated hubs for disaster education and eco-tourism. "These sites must be designed for resilience, with multi-functional use in mind. "Above all, they must be powered by the people, supported by government agencies, non-governmental organisations, private donors, media, and corporate players," he told the New Straits Times. Khamarrul said his research team from UTM has adapted the Resilience Living Lab model to suit local needs. He said the concept has already been successfully deployed in Hulu Langat (Selangor), Pasir Mas (Kelantan), George Town (Penang), Yan (Kedah), Kundasang (Sabah), and even in international post-disaster settings. In Kampung Iboi's case, he emphasised the critical importance of structural interventions such as the Sabo Dam, describing them as a key priority in protecting lives and sustaining economic activity. "The debris flows from the peaks of Gunung Inas have altered the entire landscape. Water sources were cut off, crops were destroyed, and the agricultural ecosystem was forced to evolve," he said. With the third anniversary of the 2022 tragedy approaching, an incident that claimed three lives, Khamarrul said Kampung Iboi stands as a powerful reminder of the long-lasting scars left by disasters. "Kampung Iboi is living evidence that when disaster strikes, it leaves a long-lasting impact. We need unique, community-focused resilience strategies to support a build-back-better future," he added.
Agriland
12-05-2025
- Science
- Agriland
Almost €250k for project on sustainable food systems
South East Technological University (SETU) has been awarded €224,500 in research funding by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to lead the Irish contribution to research on sustainable food systems. EcoFABULAnds is a ground-breaking international research initiative promoting sustainable, resilient landscapes through agroecological innovation. EcoFABULAnds is a co-funded programme, with financial support provided jointly by national funders in participating countries and the project's own consortium. In Ireland, DAFM has provided SETU with the full national funding contribution to advance the work. Dr. Imelda Casey, who is part of the Department of Land Sciences and a member of the Eco-innovation research centre at SETU, is the lead coordinator for the Irish element of the project alongside Michael O'Grady at University College Dublin (UCD). The team also includes Sam Browett, John Geraghty, and Utlan McCarthy, and will be supported by local enterprise initiatives. Their work will focus on identifying and implementing best-suited agroecological practices, redesigning agroecosystems, and supporting the transition to more sustainable food systems. Sustainable food systems The initiative also aims to explore how successful solutions can be mainstreamed into national and European agri-food governance structures. Teagasc, which provides partial funding, will be supervised by Dr. James Humphreys and Dr. Laura Boyle. The Irish Living Labs will be based in the south-east of the country. It represents a collaboration of multi-stakeholder groups engaging with an agroecological approach to farming. Recent activity includes the co-writing of a manifesto for resilient food systems and the development of a community-led portfolio of nature-based innovations to support transition to thriving futures. 'SETU is proud to lead Ireland's involvement in this ambitious, cross-European effort,' Dr. Casey said. 'By working alongside communities and stakeholders in the south-east, we are helping to shape resilient, inclusive, and ecologically sound approaches to food and land use. This is research with strong regional roots and global relevance.' Across Europe, each EcoFABULAnds Living Lab tells a distinct story of innovation and adaptation: In Berlin-Brandenburg , the focus is on strengthening urban-rural linkages to address land competition between food production and urban expansion; , the focus is on strengthening urban-rural linkages to address land competition between food production and urban expansion; In south Hungary , efforts are revitalising traditional horticulture and orchards to counteract food deserts and enhance landscape biodiversity; , efforts are revitalising traditional horticulture and orchards to counteract food deserts and enhance landscape biodiversity; In south Tyrol , organic farming and the sustainable use of traditional medicinal plants are helping preserve cultural heritage while responding to climate change; , organic farming and the sustainable use of traditional medicinal plants are helping preserve cultural heritage while responding to climate change; In Cyprus, circular production-consumption models are being trialled to promote sustainable agriculture through bio-based transitions. By empowering local initiatives and embedding them in governance frameworks, EcoFABULAnds aims to support a bottom-up agroecological transition across Europe. SETU has said that its involvement further reinforces the university's commitment to sustainable development and regional impact, aligned with national policy and the European Green Deal.
