The User-Centred Energy Systems Technology Collaboration Program (Users TCP), was officially launched today at the All-Energy Australia conference held in Melbourne.
A Technology Collaboration Program by the IEA, the Users TCP is focussed on the energy user and aims to provide evidence from socio-technical research on the design, social acceptance and usability of clean energy technologies to inform policy making for clean, efficient and secure energy transitions.
In his keynote address at the conference, the Users TCP Chair, Professor David Shipworth, explained the critical role of the user in our future energy systems. Distributed energy resources are increasingly located within communities, intermittent renewable generation is putting a premium on user flexibility, digitalisation is changing expectations around energy services, and decarbonisation requires investment by users in energy efficient technologies. Against this backdrop, governments need to adapt their policies and regulations to ensure that users are able – and provided the right incentives – to fully participate and benefit from the energy transition.
The User-Centred Energy Systems TCP begins its international work programme (organised into annexes) with a focus on business models, peer-to-peer energy trading, hard-to-reach energy users and the social license to automate. Later this year, work will begin on the application of behavioural insights in energy policy making.
The Users TCP Programme is overseen by an Executive Committee drawn from its 16 member countries and 3 sponsors. Experts from member countries and sponsoring organisations collaborate through the User TCP’s Annexes.
To explore how you could participate, either at the Executive Committee level or at an Annex level, please get in touch.
