Data in Brief (Apr 2023)
Dataset for the Victorian energy transition including technical, social, economic, and environmental detail
Abstract
This data relates to existing and planned electricity generation projects in Victoria, Australia. Planning Victoria, part of the Victorian Government, registered most projects. The technical performance data for the projects includes the electricity generated, input fuel, losses in the transmission of electricity, energy storage options, and transparency between grid operators and stakeholders. The social data related to the projects include health data for the effect of Victorian coal plant pollution, including a rich dataset on the health effects of a coal fire in (Jennens, 2021). A dataset for all the health effects of coal plants in Victoria was then compiled. The social data also includes a measure of customer engagement with electricity distribution companies in Victoria and public satisfaction with renewable projects in Victoria. The economic cost data includes capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, and externality costs related to greenhouse gasses emitted.The environmental data used a life cycle assessment and the critical materials needed for the electricity generation projects.The analysis performed was an nBL assessment (Foliente, 2007) which uses a comparative analysis of the four bottom lines (environmental, social, economic and technology). An nBL assessment is similar to a Triple Bottom Line assessment but includes additional parameters. The data used for this nBL analysis was for three scenarios (business as usual, a renewable generation future with electricity imported from other states and a renewable generation future with all electricity generated in Victoria). The first step in managing the raw data was to normalise, standardise and aggregate the data. These steps were done for the four bottom lines and the three scenarios. The reuse potential of this data is high as it is for a pipeline of projects that will continue to evolve. This data would also have the potential for other researchers to compare the Victorian electricity transition with other places internationally.
