Wired for Tomorrow: A new vision of an all-electric precinct
We took up the challenge over a year ago to answer the question: what would it really take to make an all-electric precinct?
We titled this future-gazing project Wired for Tomorrow, which was funded by Yarra City Council.
The precinct is triangular in shape located in the heart of the City of Yarra, Victoria, a melting pot of post-industrial, residential, small commercial and public open spaces for dog walkers and criss-crossing veins of buses, trams, and cycling lanes.
Join us by exploring the vision: https://wired-for-tomorrow.yef.org.au/
Key points
- Reaching an all-electric future powered with renewables will take more than upgrades to individual households, but also the connections between them.
- ‘Precinct-scale thinking’ is a lens to help us see opportunities at a precinct-scale that otherwise may not receive the investment they deserve. Think public bi-directional EV charging, fully electrified public transport, e-mobility infrastructure with safe cycling lanes, neighbourhood batteries, and local energy sharing arrangements.
- An all-electric precinct is positive for public health with less noise pollution, significantly improved indoor and outdoor air quality, and greater resilience to heatwaves and grid outages.
Acknowledgements
Yarra City Council was the client and funder of this project.
We consulted widely including both industry experts, including the local Distribution Network Service Provider (CitiPower), Yarra City Council as the project funder, and local electrification group, Electrify Yarra. Thanks to all others we consulted through the project, including Rewiring Australia, University Technology Sydney, Energy Consumers Australia, Race for 2030, iMove, and chair of the Industry Working Group, Anthony Seipolt. Many thanks to designer, sensemaker and storyteller, Brendan Lim of Little Sketches for developing the interactive website.
YEF is also involved in electrification programs including