Redback receives $4m grant for smart energy monitoring platform

The Queensland Government has committed $4 million to a power-slashing, job-boosting project being run by start-up company Redback Technologies and its partners Springfield City Group, Microsoft, Energy Queensland and The University of Queensland.

“The $4 million Advance Queensland Platform Technology Program grant will lead to the development of a smart energy monitoring platform that will give customers the ability to instantly analyse and control energy consumption,” said Queensland Minister for Innovation Kate Jones, who announced the investment last week.

“This technology helps people intelligently manage their power usage and cut their bills by identifying power-hungry devices and systems in their homes and businesses.”

Redback Managing Director Philip Livingston said the platform will enable home owners and businesses to understand and control their energy usage and will help networks to more efficiently manage the grid, allowing for increased penetration of renewables.

“The support of the Queensland Government will enable Redback and our partners to create a platform ecosystem, using big data to drive better outcomes for energy users and energy businesses,” he said.

“This technology will benefit industries beyond energy.”

According to Minister for State Development Cameron Dick, Redback is set to employ “up to a further 109 technical and professional staff at its University of Queensland St Lucia laboratory, adding to its existing workforce and through expanding its existing facility, which would see more jobs and opportunities trickle down through the local economy”.

“This operation will put Queensland further in the lead for energy research and development, building on our growing hub of research facilities and driving innovative solutions to market,” he said.

Energy Queensland Executive General Manager Asset Safety and Performance Peter Price said the project will ensure Energy Queensland continues to develop new technology solutions that will transform the existing network to an intelligent grid and deliver safer outcomes for the customer.

Springfield City Group Executive General Manager Dr Richard Eden added that his company is “driven strongly by innovation”, including “exciting developments in solar and storage” and is thus “delighted to be helping to lead the way with the Queensland Government and other innovative partners in the energy sector”.

Jones concluded that it is important for the state government to support local technology companies doing great things, backing industries that will support Queensland jobs in the future. “Not only will this initiative create jobs,” she said, “it will have a real impact on the lives of ordinary Queenslanders, helping them save on their household power bills.”

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