Siemens and Swinburne University of Technology have agreed to set up the most advanced future Energy Transition Hub of its kind in Australia at theUniversity’s Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.
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Featuring some of the most advanced digital energy technology from Siemens and the technical, R&D and teaching expertise of Swinburne, the $5.2 million Hub aims to build a future energy grid laboratory accessible to students and industry. When fully operational, the Hub will also offer researchers and industry the opportunity to work on solutions for greener, more efficient future energy systems using Siemens Xcelerator, a new open digital business platform and marketplace.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Karen Hapgood said, “Australia’s ambitious carbon reduction targets need a multi-pronged approach by industry, research and government. The new Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub will be working on new technologies to improve energy efficiency, supply, integration, storage, transport and use, as well as how we can improve 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. It will be home to a digital twin of Australia’s energy grid that commercial research teams can use to run simulations of new, innovative solutions and software.
In addition to R&D and commercialisation projects, the hub will deliver short courses for industry professionals. It will also give back to Swinburne students, with Siemens software and the company’s real-world industry experience integrated into engineering technology courses.
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In addition to microgrid and planning stations, the Hub will also feature Siemens’ microgrid management system (MGMS) and decentralised energy optimisation platform (DEOP) software. The microgrid technologies include SICAM A8000 and SIPROTEC5 devices for control and protection. The planning stations feature Siemens PSS software, which is used by over 70% of utilities and independent system operators including AEMO and grid operators.
