Maximising benefits to customers, communities and the grid by researching technology, markets and policy for the renewable energy transition.
We employ systems thinking to develop solutions that take a holistic view that centres on customers and communities.
Our work in this area answers questions such as:
- How can Australia plan for a sustainable recovery and response to economic crisis, and how can clean energy catalyse this transition?
- What are the ways in which we can we build resilient energy systems (for example, by developing new metrics, creating new tools and devising stress test scenarios for Australian energy systems to understand resilience)?
- What are the economics of smart grids, batteries and demand management (i.e. expanding the VNM economic model)?
- How can charging infrastructure for electric mobility help?
- How can we deliver more efficient infrastructure by integrating planning across electricity, gas and transport sectors?
- How can we empower customers, local governments, communities and businesses to accelerate their journey to net zero?
PROJECT | 2023-2024
Reimagining network utilisation in the era of consumer energy resources
How we measure the value we get from our electricity poles and wires infrastructure was designed in the 1950s – it’s time for a rethink. ISF was awarded a grant by Energy Consumers Australia to develop new metrics to update 'network utilisation' as a means to measure and improve electricity network productivity.
PROJECT | 2023
Lithgow's electric car parks
In 2022, ISF undertook research and review of the sustainability positioning and journey of a large Australian corporation on behalf of a group of responsible investors.
PROJECT | 2020-2023
MyTown Microgrid in Heyfield Victoria
More and more communities are looking to make energy work better for them, spurred by a desire to use their local resources more sustainably for the greater benefit of those who live there.
PROJECT | 2020-ongoing
The Green Wave: anchoring economic recovery through net zero strategies
With funding from the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre, ISF is leading a project to identify how net zero energy and decarbonisation strategies can more deeply engage community and business partnerships to deliver greater trust, legitimacy and social value.
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PROJECT | 2020-2021
More for less: how businesses can flex their energy to get more from a Renewable PPA
New research shows that understanding their energy use is key to businesses taking full advantage of renewable energy power purchase agreements.
PROJECT | 2019-2020
Distributed energy resources customer insights
Gathering crucial information about consumers' perceptions, habits and needs will inform the way forward for distributed energy resources.
PROJECT | 2019
Electric Vehicle charging strategy and business model for Lake Macquarie City Council
ISF delivers award-winning Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure support for local government.
PROJECT | 2014-ongoing
Network Opportunity Maps
Meeting the information needs of a new era of decentralised energy.
NEWS | MAR 2020
UTS races towards more sustainable energy
ISF is involved in RACE for 2030 - a super-charged research partnership that will power new technologies to reduce emissions, improve reliability and reduce energy bills for Australian households and businesses.
PROJECT | 2019
Solar optimisation upgrades for Victoria's commercial and industrial sector
This is the first evaluation of the potential for ‘Solar Optimisation Upgrades’ (SOUs) to reduce grid electricity demand across the Victorian commercial and industrial sector. SOUs refer to the use of demand management and energy storage to increase onsite utilisation of solar photovoltaics in order to:
• maximise self-consumption and avoid higher cost grid energy
• reduce business energy bills by reducing network demand charges that typically account for a large proportion of commercial and industrial sector electricity bills
• reduce network costs, including reduced infrastructure investment by lowering both demand and export peaks, and
• maximise renewables integration and output, with minimal curtailment, to reduce greenhouse emissions.
Client: "Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning, Victoria"
Researchers: Joe Wyndham, Chris Briggs, Dani Alexander, Kristian Maras, Tom Morris, Chris Dunstan
RESEARCH OUTPUTS
Solar Optimisation Upgrades in the Victorian Commercial and Industrial Sector (2019) (Report)
Renewable energy and energy efficiency in Victorian Energy Upgrades (2019) (Fact sheet)
IMPACT STORY
Solar panels shine in smart grid management
Australia’s electricity network is changing at rapid pace with more than 2 million properties now fitted with solar, and the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures is leading the way in stabilising the grid by making customer-owned solar set ups part of the solution.
IMPACT STORY
Managing the renewables load: why flexibility is the key
This research examines how the balance between renewables supply and demand via load flexibility can bring significant benefits to both Australian businesses and the grid. One of the greatest challenges, however, is the lack of commercial incentives.
NEWS | FEBRUARY 2019
New study shows businesses how to maximise value from solar
Feasibility studies at some of Australia’s largest businesses have shown simple investments in existing storage options like cold water tanks can increase the value from on-site solar power – and deliver low-cost flexibility to help energy markets and networks integrate higher levels of renewable energy.
PROJECT | 2016-2019
Networks Renewed
There is an emerging perception that solar PV is troublesome for the performance of Australian electricity networks by potentially increasing voltage variability. The Networks Renewed trial aimed to address that perception by clearly demonstrating how solar PV and batteries can instead be a valuable resource for the businesses who manage electricity networks; changing the problem into a solution.
PROJECT | 2016-2017
Demand management incentives review
Assessing the financial barriers to electricity demand management created by economic incentives for distribution network businesses.
To read more about our capabilities on modelling, mapping and data visualisation see our Modelling and analytics service.
