$5.2m energy transition hub launched in Australia

Siemens and Swinburne University of Technology have launched an advanced future Energy Transition Hub at the university’s Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.

Featuring advanced digital energy technology from Siemens and the technical, R&D and teaching expertise of Swinburne, the $5.2 million Hub is a future energy grid laboratory accessible to students, teaching staff and industry. It features a digital twin of Australia’s energy market, enabling commercial research teams to run simulations of new solutions, particularly the intermix and influx of various sources of energy into the grid.

Lily D’Ambrosio, Victoria’s Minister for Energy and Resources, said, “Victoria is on track to reach 95% renewable energy
generation by 2035 and net zero by 2045 and innovative digital technologies will help us get there — that’s why facilities like this are so important. By expanding and modernising our grid, we will enable cheaper, more reliable renewable energy to be delivered to homes and businesses across Victoria.”

According to Karen Hapgood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, the hub will be working on new technologies to improve efficiency, supply, integration, storage, transport and use, as well as improving existing technologies and frameworks. “We need change fast, and the Siemens–Swinburne team will focus on taking ideas to market — where they can make the most impact as quickly as possible.”

The hub will enable users to leverage digital twins of energy grids, map scenarios, research new findings, develop original and creative hypotheses, and test results. Commercial research teams will be able to run simulations of new solutions and software using the digital twin of Australia’s energy grid. Researchers, students and industry can use the opportunity to work on solutions for greener, more efficient future energy systems using Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform and marketplace.

Peter Halliday, Siemens Australia and New Zealand CEO, said it is critical that industry and academia collaborate to drive better outcomes on key topics of national importance such as the energy transition. “I’m proud of what the Siemens and Swinburne teams have achieved at the Energy Transition Hub, creating a best-of-its-kind for industry.”

In addition to R&D and commercialisation projects, the hub will deliver short courses for industry professionals.

The microgrid technologies include SICAM A8000 and SIPROTEC5 devices for control and protection. The planning stations feature Siemens PSS software.