Oral Presentation World Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2026

Invisible Infrastructure: Wiring the Path to Net Zero    (132960)

Simon M Waldren 1
  1. Eden Valley Consulting, Cheltenham, VIC, Australia

While façades, solar panels, and timber structures dominate sustainable design narratives, the real enabler of decarbonisation lies beneath the surface — in the cabling and wiring systems that power and connect every building. This presentation reframes electrical infrastructure as a critical element of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and a measurable driver of net-zero outcomes. Using the UK MMC Category Framework as a reference, it explores how Australia’s electrical sector can move from incremental improvements to true industrialised transformation. The session highlights opportunities in local manufacturing, design integration, and workforce transformation through TAFEs and RTOs. Featuring insights from Nexans/Olex in Lilydale, Victoria, it demonstrates how sovereign manufacturing and system-level design can turn invisible infrastructure into a visible sustainability advantage. The outcome: redefining wiring systems as essential enablers of productivity, safety, and carbon reduction in the built environment.

 

Keywords:
Invisible Infrastructure; Electrification; Cabling Systems; Modern Methods of Construction (MMC); Net Zero; Local Manufacturing; Workforce Transformation; Sustainability

 

Proposed Track:

  • Sustainable Materials and Systems
  • Industrialised Construction / MMC
  • Electrification and Smart Infrastructure
  • Workforce Transformation and Capability Building