Australia has over 2 million PV installations given a combined capacity of over 11.1 gigawatts as of January 2019. This area experienced extremely rapid growth between 2010 and 2013 and has continued to grow. As Australia’s high capacity of PV installations, distributed energy markets have been established to capitalise on the available energy.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living (CRC LCL) research project Mainstreaming Net Zero Energy Housing aims to improve industry understanding of Net Zero Energy Homes (NZEH) while addressing cost and consumer interest barriers. The project also provides a unique opportunity to increase collaboration between industry players such as land developers and volume builders.

Agent-based modelling has the potential to provide insight into complex energy transition dynamics. Despite a recent emphasis of research on agent-based modelling and on energy transitions, an overview of how the methodology may be of value to understanding transition processes is still missing from the literature.

Highlights
A persuasive behaviour change program is assessed from a practice theory approach.
Most changes involved alterations in the technology element of the practice.
Alterations in the meaning and skill elements of practice are challenging.
Automation enabled dis-interlocking changes from the home system of practice.
Abstract