Net Zero Australia is a partnership between the University of Melbourne, the University of Queensland, Princeton University and international management consultancy Nous Group. Net Zero Australia uses the modelling method developed by Princeton University and Evolved Energy Research for its 2020 Net-Zero America study.

Final modelling results were made public for the first time on the evening of Wednesday 19 April 2023. The final modelling results include a detailed breakdown of possible scenarios and sensitivities, sector by sector, and comprehensive mapping of the transition across the country.

Final modelling results

Our research paper from last year’s Building Simulation conference has been selected for publication in the upcoming issue of Ecolibrium and allows us to share our findings with a broader audience. Ecolibrium is the monthly journal of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating (AIRAH).

Our paper, titled “Disaggregation of precipitation data applicable for climate‐aware planning in built environments” addresses the challenge of obtaining high-temporal-resolution precipitation data, which is crucial for the design and simulation of built environments. Current data sets are either too low in temporal resolution or too short in duration to produce reliable, climate-responsive results.

To tackle this problem, we developed a stochastic algorithm based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods that can generate hourly precipitation data using daily precipitation data. Our approach incorporates data from various weather elements, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and cloud cover, to improve the accuracy of the generated disaggregated precipitation time series.

The research outcomes will provide hourly precipitation data from 1990 to the present for various Australian cities, complementing the weather and climate data produced by Exemplary Energy over several decades. This new data will have a profound impact on the design and simulation of built environments, allowing for more climate-responsive and sustainable designs.

Stay tuned for the publication of our paper in Ecolibrium and keep an eye on our blog for more updates about our research and projects.

Exemplary’s Executive Director, Trevor Lee. will again be presenting our work internationally at the 7th ICEM in Italy in late June.

Until May 5th, 2023, readers can save a spot for ICEM 2023 at a special price and meet world-renowned experts in the field of renewable energy. Join us in person from 27th to 29th June 2023, and meet scientists, engineers, economists, policy-makers, social scientists, and other specialists and practitioners in the field for three days of learning and networking at the beautiful Galzignano Terme Spa and Golf Resort near Padua, Italy. 

Paper by Exemplary: Enhanced Real Time Year Weather Data for Australian Applications and Simulations

In this paper, the authors delve into the latest advancements in weather and climate data services that enhance the quality of Real-Time Year (RTY) weather files for engineering and architectural simulations. As a compilation of real-time meteorological data, RTY files are utilised in various fields, including building commissioning, performance monitoring, and energy and peak load analyses. The use of RTY files in benchmarking simulations is particularly noteworthy as it allows for tracking systems’ recent weather-dependent energy performance compared with using historic average climate conditions. Given this, it is of paramount importance to have accurate and timely RTY data sets for management and optimisation of thermal and hygrothermal systems.

We are proud that our Exemplary Weather and Energy Index articles have just been given a substantial upgrade – with interactive capabilities that will surely enhance your experience.

We understand the importance of accurate and accessible data, which is why we have added interactive graphs with a customisable dropdown menu for each of the 8 Australian capital cities. Now, you can easily access and compare the specific weather elements and archetype simulation results you’re interested in, whether that be office buildings, supermarkets, or a 5kW PV domestic system.

Our new graphs also allow you to add or remove data from the charts by simply clicking on the legend. This interactive feature streamlines the data visualisation process, giving you more control over the information displayed and enabling a self-tailored analysis and understanding.

We encourage you to explore the latest improvements in our Exemplary Weather and Energy Index articles and take advantage of the new interactive features. Your feedback is essential to our continuing improvement, and we would appreciate your thoughts on the enhanced functionality of our articles. exemplary.energy@exemplary.com.au