Sungrow, the global leader in PV inverters and energy storage systems, has successfully delivered a hybrid battery energy storage solution in partnership with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Dubbo Regional Council, supporting advanced research into Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) technologies.

The project provides UNSW with a dedicated platform to test, validate, and industrialise next-generation EMS and VPP algorithms, while also contributing to the Council’s sustainability, energy efficiency, and resilience objectives.

Project Overview
Sungrow served as the exclusive equipment supplier, UNSW led the engineering, and Dubbo Regional Council owns the system. Funded through TRaCE (Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy) under the Australian Department of Education, the project commenced in Q1 2025 and has now been completed successfully.

Technical Highlights

-System Composition: Two Sungrow SH15T/SBH300 hybrid energy storage systems coordinated via a Logger1000.

-Integration: AC-coupled with the building’s existing solar PV installation, ensuring seamless operation.

-Control & Coordination: UNSW’s EMS oversees the system, while Sungrow’s batteries operate in a coordinated manner for stable, efficient performance.

-Advanced Functions: Includes load monitoring, demand-side management, and predictive energy optimization using weather and occupancy data.

Research Meets Real-World Impact
The project enables both behind-the-meter (BTM) and front-of-the-meter (FTM) functionality, optimising energy use and reducing operating costs for Dubbo Regional Council. UNSW benefits from a real-world “living lab” to validate research in real-time.

Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Josh Black said, “The system will allow us to save money directly for our community, reducing operating costs and improving financial sustainability.”

UNSW Project Leader Scientia Professor Deo Prasad AO added, “By combining Sungrow’s expertise with UNSW’s research and Dubbo Council’s commitment, we are developing a solution that enhances energy efficiency today and paves the way for scalable, sustainable energy management across Australia.”

Local Partnerships
The project benefited from strong local collaboration, with Diverse Electrical handling installation and commissioning, and SolarJuice supporting equipment distribution and logistics.

Future Outlook
Sungrow and UNSW plan to continue enhancing the system with potential EV integration, National Electricity Market (NEM) trading, and backup power functionality. Additional projects under the TRaCE initiative are also in progress, supporting the translation of Australian energy research into practical, scalable solutions.