Briefing Notes and Publications
Tuesday, 16 March 2010 00:20
How do we prepare now for a future of unprecedented resource scarcity and environmental change? Unless we take radical steps to increase the resilience and sustainability of critical infrastructure, access to vital systems and services is at risk.
This paper highlights the dynamic forces increasing the vulnerability of current infrastructure and services and presents the case for distributed systems as an alternative design model.
 Download this document here | 3086 Kb |
Monday, 13 July 2009 08:27
This is VEIL's second briefing paper on distributed systems. It draws on case studies and research to describe the emergence of ‘distributed water systems’ - a highly networked and localised approach to water infrastructure and critical water services.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
An unprecedented water crisis is unfolding across southern Australia, driven by the compounding impacts of climate change, over use and a legacy of short sighted water policies. As many water strategists re-apply traditional methods to meet this ‘perfect storm’ of supply and demand challenges, a quiet evolution is occurring in water system design. This evolution has emerged as a strong and coherent trend with positive and radical implications for creating a sustainable water future.
This briefing paper draws on case studies and research to describe the emergence of ‘distributed water systems’ - a highly networked and localised approach to water infrastructure and critical water services. Cases from Australia, Europe and the US show how distributed water systems can generate positive outcomes that enhance and supplement those provided by our existing infrastructure models. They are able to:
•   Reduce costs and resource use
•   Improve service security and reduce risk of failure
•   Strengthen local economies
•   Strengthen community wellbeing
•   Regenerate and protect the natural environment
•   Redefine traditional water systems
| Distributed Water Systems.VEIL.pdf | 5694 Kb |
Briefing Notes and Publications
Monday, 16 February 2009 07:07
This is VEIL's first briefing paper on distributed systems. Drawing on examples from states and cities in the EU and US, this paper demonstrates policy approaches for the development of distributed energy systems.
Authors: Dr. Kes McCormick, Rebekka Falk and Samira Viswanathan
Participating Institutions: Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society, University of Melbourne with The EU Environmental Education and Research Alliance (ENVERA)
Abstract:
Distributed energy is not a new idea. However, advances in technology and rising awareness of major sustainability challenges are creating new opportunities. At one end of the spectrum, distributed energy refers to small and medium scale technologies that generate electricity and heat. The term is often used to describe energy generated by units that are close to the location of use (either independent of, or connected to, ‘the grid’). On the other hand, distributed energy can be understood more as a structural transformation of grid-connected electricity systems, away from highly centralised technologies towards distributed and diversified systems relying far more on renewable energy sources. This has implications for both production and consumption of electrical energy.
| Distributed Energy.VEIL.pdf | 1419 Kb |
