Research

To support decarbonisation, strategic and statutory infrastructure policies and plans have evolved (and continue to evolve) in focusing on the transition from gaseous fuel to the use of 100% renewable electricity in Australia’s built environment. The exclusion of gas from policy, regulation, and incentivisation schemes will potentially render opportunities for hydrogen, biogas or renewable methane mixed with or replacing natural gas increasingly difficult in the residential context. There is therefore a need for the gas sector to understand the drivers for the apparent preference for all electric homes in built environment policy and regulation, in order to effectively deal with this significant policy issue.

This research project is informing the renewable gas and hydrogen sector about current changes to building and planning policy and practice and what’s driving these changes.

Via desktop and interview research on government policy and industry practice regarding decarbonisation of domestic energy supply and use the project is developing reports which examine and consider:

• Policy, planning requirements, building code requirements and similar in three Australian states (Victoria, Western Australia, and NSW), showing how gas in both new and existing homes is being treated in the current energy transition;
• Who and what is driving changes to built environment policy and practices; and
• Recommendations concerning how to engage/communicate with relevant stakeholders about future gaseous fuels such as hydrogen, biogas and renewable methane in relevant legislation and regulation to ensure they are included in Australia’s future domestic energy mix.

This research project enables that the gas sector to more effectively engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the interests of (renewable) gas consumers are considered in Australia’s domestic residential energy future.

This project will produce advice for companies and legislative policymakers regarding changes in the built environment regarding gas and hydrogen use and, secondly, regarding which stakeholders are driving the current changes. The gas sector will gain a stronger understanding of:

• The drivers and barriers for the continuation of gas in the domestic sector;
• The perspectives and motivations of built environment stakeholders regarding future uses of gas for domestic energy supply (e.g. urban planners, architects, building designers, developers); and
• The role of such perspectives in policy, program and householder decision making processes regarding the future of gas in housing.

Jeremy Harris

Research and Innovation Manager

jeremy.harris@futurefuelscrc.com