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.