Dr Wen Wu

Dr Wen Wu is a Research Scientist on the Insight team at CSIRO’s Data61. Wen specialises in strategic foresight for evaluating future risks and opportunities associated with digital and economic disruptions, and has been involved in multiple consulting and advisory projects for government and industry clients. She completed her PhD at the University of Queensland in the area of human learning and memory. Her research background includes examining how we develop expertise when dealing with the complexities of our everyday environment, without necessarily being able to articulate the basis for our decisions. Wen is motivated to provide evidence-based explanations for human behaviour, and has presented topics relating to digital disruption, global megatrends, and human judgement and decision making to large audiences both here in Australia and overseas.

THE FUTURE OF ENERGY 

New advancements in technologies for generating, managing and storing renewable energy, along with shifting consumer preferences and changes to the energy mix could potentially transform the energy system across Australia over the coming decades. With these changes, the end-user is becoming increasingly central to the energy system—both as consumers and generators of energy. Projections developed by CSIRO Energy, estimate that almost 50% of Australia’s future energy needs could be generated by customers themselves through decentralised and distributed networks. However, the future is uncertain. Just how many of us will latch onto emerging energy storage systems as they become increasingly affordable in the future? Will a wave of electric vehicles achieve market saturation? Will we see a rise in mobility as a service?