A new discussion paper says technology has solutions to the major cost of living for many.

A draft discussion paper put forth by the Clean Energy Council says there are plenty of strong benefits to moving toward less centralised energy generators.

With new innovations and entirely new forms of power supply emerging at a high rate, the future will most certainly contain a broad range of options.

Small thorium reactors, piezoelectric devices and batteries with untold capacity are all in development, and the Clean Energy Council says governments should embrace the boost of more democratic power supply.

CEC says early movements have already been made in favour of smaller, cheaper and more efficient power sources.

More than two million Australians have installed rooftop solar panels, and the CEC says this is the direction the country should take for much more of its electricity needs.

The new paper says there are three main areas that decentralised energy generation can improve.

More competition is seen as a key driver, following the model of rooftop solar in pushing down energy prices for some users. This benefit can be expanded to reduce power prices for everybody, if the sources are improved.

Secondly. CEC says up-front costs for solar and wind power generation have dropped in industrial, commercial and residential scales. It also says project costs can be reduced with innovative ownership models.

And finally, a decentralised model of generation can reduce loss and redundancy of massive distribution grids by locating sources of power closer to the final outlet.

The CEC says if a revolution is brought about, it would see our current power systems filling an opposite role, providing a safety net of supply only in times of need.

“As with all disruptive technologies, a more distributed form of generation creates winners and losers, and many of those who have benefited from the traditional system will have an obvious tendency to resist change and the ability to protest loudly,” says Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green.

“Others will embrace change. It is an exciting and dynamic time for the energy sector to drive innovation and reach for the future.”

The CEC's paper is available here, in PDF form.