Monash University and ClimateWorks Low Carbon Study

Summary

Funded by ARENA in 2014, the Monash University and ClimateWorks Low Carbon Study, undertook new modelling into the role of renewable energy technologies and biofuels in decarbonising Australia’s economy. The work was met with great initial interest and a demand was created to reach and engage a broader audience on the findings of the report.

ARENA provided additional funding of $390,000 for ClimateWorks Australia to delve deeper into a number of the findings of the first study. ClimateWorks Australia engaged with community, business and industry stakeholders to encourage them to make tangible changes to their sectors to achieve decarbonisation without compromising their business needs.

A key focus of this project was the role of the electric vehicle (EV) sector in decarbonising the economy. ClimateWorks Australia built evidence and understanding of what is needed to drive the uptake of electric vehicles (and their enablers) as part of Australia’s transition to a low emissions economy.

Need

There are still many misconceptions about the pathway to a low carbon economy and the opportunity they present. One of the early low cost opportunities is to escalate the uptake of electric vehicles. This will involve economic, technical, social, and policy challenges that will need to be understood and managed to ensure cost effective and timely uptake.

Project innovation

This Activity focused on building an evidence base on EVs within Australia, and an understanding of what is required to drive the required rate of uptake to achieve decarbonisation of the transport sectors by engaging with all levels of government, leading businesses, the EV industry and the energy industry.

The Activity also developed capacity building materials and exercises to build greater literacy and engagement in broader audiences across a range of renewable and low emissions technologies.

Benefit

EVs could act as new source of demand for renewable energy and also help address issues of intermittency. Evidence suggests that it is a technology with strong potential to garner public interest and the EV sector is ready to move into the mainstream. EVs are part of the critical path to electrify the transportation sector which is a requirement to displace liquid fossil fuels, and to enable renewable powered transport.

The broader project has worked to create a more informed public dialogue to help build widespread support for renewables and their enablers.