CSIRO launches Future Grid Cluster

By 2050, our homes and businesses will be powered by more than 20 different energy sources and technologies, CSIRO has predicted.

CSIRO today announced a $13 million research collaboration between CSIRO and four leading Australian universities - University of Sydney, University of Newcastle, University of Queensland and University of New South Wales - to develop the nation’s capacity to plan and design the most efficient, low-emission electricity grid for Australia.

Launching the Future Grid Cluster today, Dr Tom Hatton, CSIRO Energy Group Executive, said the electricity sector is undergoing a huge transformation, a change not seen since the industrial revolution.

“We are facing unprecedented change in the electricity system over the next 20 to 30 years. We’re talking about change to a system that has seen stability for decades and has used technologies and energy sources that are predictable and controllable. Moving away from that is going to require a great deal of effort and capacity building,” Dr Hatton said.

“The Future Grid Cluster brings together Australia’s best research capabilities and provides a framework the electricity sector needs to make AU$240 billion worth of decisions in the next two decades.”

“Each university will contribute specialist knowledge and expertise and will work with CSIRO to develop a new suite of tools to understand, develop and optimise energy grids of the future,” said Professor Tony Vassallo from the University of Sydney, who is leader of the research program.

“This will assist decision-makers in their choices about future grid development.”

The project is supported by AU$10 million worth of in-kind contribution from university partners and an AU$3.2 million grant from the CSIRO Flagship Collaboration Fund, which was established to enable the skills of the wider Australian and global research community to be applied to the major national challenges targeted by CSIRO’s Flagship research program.