UNSW Sydney has launched a trial of a next-generation hybrid rooftop solar energy management system (EMS).
The project, trialled in a Dubbo Regional Council building, integrates rooftop solar, battery storage, electric vehicle (EV) chargers and grid power to manage energy use more efficiently. The aim is to demonstrate how advanced systems can cut emissions and operating costs in the built environment.
Developed by a team of UNSW researchers, the EMS uses predictive analytics and automation to optimise energy flows in real-time. It is designed to tackle inefficiencies in buildings, which account for around 40 per cent of global energy consumption and a third of greenhouse gas emissions.
The initiative also serves as a key example of how university research can be applied to real-world challenges in regional Australia, aligning with national net-zero goals by offering a scalable, commercial-ready solution.
The project is supported by TRaCE’s Lab to Market Fund, which is providing funding, commercialisation support, and access to industry expertise.
It forms part of the Federal Government’s $370.3 million Trailblazer Universities Program, which includes $50 million for each of six selected universities, matched by university and industry partners. An additional $45 million is supporting collaboration with CSIRO to accelerate research delivery using specialist equipment and technical expertise.
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