Australia’s Energy Futures Forum has begun work identifying plausible future energy and transport scenarios.

In the first meeting of its kind, industry, environmental, government, scientific and community groups have now met. The Forum’s agreed aim is to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to explore potential pathways for future energy and transport needs.

The Forum has been jointly developed by ABARE and CSIRO’s Energy Transformed National Research Flagship with the support of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. The invited participants currently include:

Alcoa World Alumina Australia
Orica
Australian Automobile Association
Origin Energy
Australian Conservation Foundation
Pacific Hydro
Australian Council of Social Service
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
BHP Billiton
Rio Tinto
Department of Industry Tourism and Resources
Stanwell Corporation
ENERGEX
Westpac Banking Corporation
Hydro Tasmania
WWF Australia
Loy Yang Power
Woodside Energy
NSW electricity generators*
Xstrata Coal
OneSteel

“This is an important opportunity to promote constructive dialogue between the diverse stakeholders and to focus on key issues that will be faced by the industry as well as the community,” Dr John Wright, Director of CSIRO’s ‘Energy Transformed’ Flagship, said.

“Ultimately, the Forum aims to provide information for different organisations to use to meet their individual planning needs. For example, for Government to inform energy and environment policy and development, businesses as a tool for investment strategies and for CSIRO to use in the development of future research programs.”

“To do this the Forum will use improved, purpose-built integrated models featuring a linkage of economic technology development and implementation, social attitudes and environment modelling,” Dr Wright said.

The Forum is a two year program and information generated from the collaborative process will be made public at appropriate times.

* Joint participants Delta Electricity, Eraring Energy & Macquarie Generation

Original press release: New thinking on national energy future (CSIRO)