Australia 4.0 is an initiative of the Pearcey Foundation to help Australia develop a consistent approach to the digital and data enablement of the energy transition.

• In 2023, our series of nine national discussions canvassed the issues and explored the implications.

• In 2024, our workshops were focused on driving the next generation of Australian ICT enabled solutions by looking at the intersection of consumer agency, regulation and digitalisation.

• In 2025 we are continuing the effort to conceive and realise a consumer-centric grid, which can empower consumers and buoy our economy.

This is a constructive effort to bring together all stakeholders to have the discussions we need to have to best meet these challenges for our nation.

Donwload the Australia 4.0 Communiqué to review the earlier work and access the records of the sessions for 2023 and 2024.

Discussions focus through the lenses:

Customer - ICT - Innovation - Australian

“No Decarbonisation without DigitaLIsation”

“The new grid offers significant potential for the utilisation of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and large language models. This is the stuff that brings the real unimaginable efficiencies. This is the stuff that really can make low-cost energy for people as these technologies could be used for dynamic pricing, faster troubleshooting and response, and better self-service for customers."

Prof Neil Horricks (UQ, now Race2030 CRC) Session 1 on 6-Jul-2023

Roundtable #4 - Powering the Future: Standards for Batteries and the Grid

Hosted by Standards Australia, this session explored the role of standards in shaping the energy transition for Australia. We covered progress in battery standards, future plans, and international collaboration on standardisation. The speakers discussed key trends, including community batteries, grid-connected storage, digitisation, and demand response, examining their impact on customers and the grid.

National leaders and experts collaborating on shaping the path for innovative Australian ICT solutions to facilitate the transition of our energy system to Net Zero while delivering enhanced consumer benefits and economic success.

Australia 4.0 identified that one of the major opportunities for accelerating the transition to renewable electricity is the use of advanced ICT solutions, including sophisticated, pervasive and interoperable storage.

On-premises, neighbourhood, community and network level storage can be used to level out intermittent renewable energy supply and the variability of energy demand. There is opportunity to develop new approaches to planning and implementation of new energy solutions, such as designing shared energy storage services for communities, taking into account increased electrification of transport and household utilities.

Date/Time:            Friday, February 14^th, 2025 10:00-12:00 AEDT

See the photos from the day here.

Roundtable #5 - Data infrastructure, bandwidth and security for localised CER energy ponds

In 2023, Australia 4.0 identified that one of the major opportunities for accelerating the transition to renewable electricity is the use of advanced ICT solutions, including digitalised systems for sharing energy among local prosumers. These technologies create the potential for a customer-centric grid, which can empower customers in their energy choices and usage.

Hosted by the Electrification & Energy Systems Network of the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub and University of Wollongong, this roundtable explored Consumer Energy Resources (CER), such as rooftop solar, connected together in local areas to create an "Energy Pond". The digital control systems to make this work depend on having a system architecture to securely share the requisite data in a timely manner. There is opportunity to develop new approaches to planning and implementation of new energy solutions, such as designing shared energy resources for communities, taking into account privacy, shared economic benefit and increased use of electric vehicles, among other priorities.

This session explored the role of data in shaping the energy transition for Australia, particularly at the local community level. It covered progress in energy pond design, implementation, security and regulation.

The Roundtable sought to respond to the questions: What are the opportunities for making consumer generated energy more accessible and shareable? How will data drive the sharing of energy? What are the characteristics/features of a modern grid? What are the advanced ICT technologies that will most help realise that modern grid? Time for the energy transition is short!! Which areas are most important??

Date/Time:            Friday, April 4^th, 2025 10:00-12:00 AEDT