ANU Centre for Energy Systems
The ANU Centre for Energy Systems is an Australian National University research centre that delivers transdisciplinary research, testing facilities and software tools for distributed energy resources, battery storage and grid integration, serving government, regulators and energy industry partners across Australia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersActon, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ANU Centre for Energy Systems does
The ANU Centre for Energy Systems (ACES) is a research centre within the Australian National University's School of Engineering, College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics. Formed on 4 November 2024 from the amalgamation of the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program (BSGIP, est. April 2018) and the ANU 100 Percent Renewable Energy Group (RE100), ACES pursues economy-wide decarbonisation through socio-techno-economic, transdisciplinary research spanning engineering, chemistry, physics, computing, economics, and social science. Its portfolio centres on distributed energy resources (DER) integration, battery storage, vehicle-to-grid (V2G), pumped hydro, and community-scale storage, served through three physical/research assets: the Distributed Energy Resources Laboratory (DERlab), the Battery Materials and Energy Storage Laboratory, and a portfolio of software outputs (evolve, Converge, RouteZero, flexible demand tools).
ACES monetises through government grants and contracted research rather than commercial sales. Disclosed funding flows include the ACT Government's Renewable Energy Innovation Fund (initial $8M, 2018), $2M for DERlab (ACT $1.5M plus Australian Government $500K, 2019), ARENA/NSW funding for the evolve project ($7M, Feb 2019), ARC Discovery grant ($420K, 2020), NSW Bushfire Community Recovery funding for ESKIES ($3.125M, August 2021), and ANU College funding ($180K, 2022). ACES participates in national projects worth over $119M involving 30+ partners, though most of that capital does not flow directly to ACES. Customers are public-sector and regulated-industry buyers: AEMO, AEMC, the Australian Energy Regulator, ACT/NSW Governments, evoenergy, Citipower, Ausgrid, Zepben, Birdwood Energy, Yarra Energy Foundation, Horizon Power, and Transit Systems. As a university research centre, ACES does not charge end-users for its research outputs and reports no standalone revenue; outputs are distributed via open publications, policy submissions, and licensed collaborations.
The organisation is led by Co-Directors Professor Kylie Catchpole FAA FTSE and Associate Professor Heather Logie, supported by a senior team of ~14 (researchers, professional staff and HDR students) and a leadership group including Kim Blackmore, Tim Johnston, Laura Jones, Josh Vote, and Phillipa Watson. Notable accolades include the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, multiple Australian Academy of Science fellowships, ATSE Clunies Ross Award, MA Sargent Medal, ACT Scientist of the Year (2024), and the Engineers Australia Canberra Excellence Project Award (2023). Professor Lachlan Blackhall, the inaugural head of BSGIP, transitioned to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation at ANU in February 2024.
ANU Centre for Energy Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ANU Centre for Energy Systems
- Legal name
- The Australian National University
- Website
- https://bsgip.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The ANU Centre for Energy Systems is an Australian National University research centre that delivers transdisciplinary research, testing facilities and software tools for distributed energy resources, battery storage and grid integration, serving government, regulators and energy industry partners across Australia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ANU Centre for Energy Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Energy Systems Research
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Engineering Services (541330), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Permitting, Siting & Environmental Impact (EIA/NEPA) Advisory (EUAMANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SCADA, Controls & Communications Integration (RTU, Fiber, Networking) (EUAEADAD), Process Start-up & Operational Readiness (ORR) (EUAEAJAF), Enterprise Architecture & IT Operating Model (BPAHAEAB)
Keywords
Where ANU Centre for Energy Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Acton, Australian Capital Territory
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
ANU Centre for Energy Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Research Grants and Government Funding: Primary funding from ACT Government through Renewable Energy Innovation Fund initiative, Australian Government grants, Australian Research Council (ARC) grants, and various industry partner funding
- Collaborative Research Projects: Undertakes socio-techno-economic research, development and demonstration activities with industry partners on national projects worth over $119M
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
ANU Centre for Energy Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ANU Centre for Energy Systems (ACES) is a research centre that conducts energy systems research, develops open-source software tools (notably evolve for dynamic operating envelopes), operates physical laboratories for battery and distributed energy resource testing, and delivers policy advisory and collaborative research projects on decarbonisation, battery storage, and grid integration.
Product overview
The ANU Centre for Energy Systems (ACES), formerly the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program (BSGIP), is a research institution offering a portfolio of research programs, testing facilities, and software tools focused on the global energy transition and economy-wide decarbonization. The portfolio includes: DERlab and Battery Lab as core testing facilities; evolve (grid orchestration software with Zepben), REVS (vehicle-to-grid services), neighbourhood batteries research, and the Southcoast microgrid project as major research programs; Converge for dynamic operating envelopes; flexible demand software with Birdwood Energy; and RouteZero for electric bus feasibility assessment. ACES combines expertise in engineering, chemistry, computer sciences, physics, economics, and social sciences, delivering socio-techno-economic research, development, and demonstration activities. The Centre also produces policy submissions and discussion papers influencing energy regulation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DERlab: Distributed Energy Resources Laboratory - a state-of-the-art testing facility which mirrors the energy grid for testing and developing DER technologies.
- Battery Materials and Energy Storage Laboratory
- REVS
Products and services
- evolve Open-source distribution network software developed for modelling and managing dynamic operating envelopes for distributed energy resources, used by distribution network operators, utilities, and researchers.
- Distributed Energy Resources Laboratory (DERlab) Physical laboratory facility for real-world hardware testing of distributed energy resources, smart inverters, and grid integration equipment, used by industry partners, researchers, and standards bodies.
- Battery Materials and Energy Storage Laboratory Laboratory facility for battery materials research, cell fabrication, and energy storage characterisation, supporting academic and industry collaboration on storage technologies.
- REVS (Renewable Energy Vehicle Systems) Research program supporting the integration of renewable energy and electric vehicles, including vehicle-to-grid technology research, serving government, industry partners, and research collaborators.
- Southcoast Microgrid Reliability Feasibility (SμRF) Project Collaborative research project assessing the feasibility of microgrid reliability solutions for the Southcoast region, delivered to regional and government stakeholders.
- Neighbourhood Batteries Program Research program studying the technical, economic, and social impacts of neighbourhood-scale battery storage deployments, supporting local councils, communities, and distribution networks.
- Multi-Energy System Modelling (MES) Modelling framework that supports analysis of coupled electricity, gas, and heat systems, used by researchers and policy makers to evaluate whole-of-system decarbonisation pathways.
Quantifiable outcome
- Real-world deployment of DERlab opened July 2021 with $2M investment from ACT and Australian Government
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ANU Centre for Energy Systems
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ANU Centre for Energy Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
ANU Centre for Energy Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ITP RenewablescoreDERlab partner providing collaborative testing and development capabilities for distributed energy resources integration into the distribution system
- evoenergycoreDERlab partner contributing expertise in electricity network operations for testing and verification of DER device integration
- UNSW CanberracoreDERlab partner providing academic research collaboration for distributed energy resources testing and prototyping activities
- ZepbencoreSoftware development company leading the evolve project consortium for smart grid orchestration software; won Engineers Australia Canberra Excellence Project Award 2023
- Birdwood EnergycorePartnership to build flexible demand software tool for commercial and industrial businesses to realise their flexible demand potential
- Yarra Energy FoundationcorePartnership for Melbourne Solar Sponge community battery trial - applying BSGIP research into community-scale batteries in Melbourne CBD
- CitipowercoreElectricity network partner for Melbourne CBD community battery trial alongside Yarra Energy Foundation
- Horizon PowercoreDistributed energy resources trials in remote Western Australia town of Carnarvon, investigating technical solutions for barriers to consumer DER installation
- Transit SystemscorePartner in Australia's largest electric bus fleet project - 40 buses, charging infrastructure and retrofitted depot in Leichhardt, Sydney ($36M project)
- Munster Electrochemical Energy Technology (MEET) CentreminorGermany-Australia collaboration evaluating dual-ion batteries with phosphorus negative electrodes
- AusgridcorePartnership on community-scale batteries regulatory reform options and distribution network management
- Total Environment CentreminorJoint presentation on community-scale batteries regulatory reform options
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ANU Centre for Energy Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): U.S. Department of Energy national lab leading renewable energy and grid integration research with dedicated testing facilities (e.g., ESIF). Highly comparable as a publicly funded research institution with DER testing labs, standards work and policy influence.
- Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI): Global, industry-funded research organisation for the electricity sector, producing standards, grid integration research and demonstration projects. Comparable for its role shaping utility practice on DER, storage and grid modernisation.
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO): Australia's national science agency, conducting large-scale applied energy research including DER, hydrogen and grid integration. Comparable as the most direct Australian counterpart running publicly funded, multi-partner energy transition R&D at scale.
- Sandia National Laboratories: U.S. national lab with deep DER, microgrid and energy storage research, including grid cyber-physical testing capabilities. Comparable for its mission-aligned energy storage and grid security testing infrastructure and standards influence.
Others
- Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA): Australian federal agency that funds renewable energy R&D and demonstration projects. Comparable as a co-funder and programme partner on evolve, REVS and neighbourhood battery projects, shaping the same grant ecosystem ACES operates in.
- Smart Energy Council: Australian industry peak body for smart energy and DER. Comparable as a convening and policy-influencing body operating in the same DER, community battery and EV ecosystem that ACES researches.
Direct peers
- Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA): Independent energy finance and policy research organisation producing briefings and reports that influence energy transition policy. Comparable for its research-and-advocacy model and influence on regulators and governments.
- Beyond Zero Emissions: Australian climate solutions think tank producing technical decarbonisation research and 10-year plans. Comparable as an Australia-focused non-profit producing techno-economic and policy research that informs energy transition decisions.
- Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): Independent non-profit energy research and consulting organisation focused on decarbonisation, DER and grid transformation. Comparable as a think-and-do tank combining technical analysis, software/tooling (e.g., REPRA, Hopper) and policy advisory work.
- University of New South Wales (UNSW) Energy Institute: Leading Australian university energy research hub with PV, storage and grid integration research and a major testing facility (e.g., Tyree Energy Technologies Building). Comparable as a peer academic centre competing for ARC grants and industry partnerships.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ANU Centre for Energy Systems social profiles
Digital presenceANU Centre for Energy Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ANU Centre for Energy Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
ANU Centre for Energy Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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ANU Centre for Energy Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ANU Centre for Energy Systems
What does ANU Centre for Energy Systems do?
ANU Centre for Energy Systems (ACES) is a research centre that conducts energy systems research, develops open-source software tools (notably evolve for dynamic operating envelopes), operates physical laboratories for battery and distributed energy resource testing, and delivers policy advisory and collaborative research projects on decarbonisation, battery storage, and grid integration.
Is ANU Centre for Energy Systems a public or private company?
ANU Centre for Energy Systems is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was ANU Centre for Energy Systems founded?
ANU Centre for Energy Systems was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ANU Centre for Energy Systems based?
ANU Centre for Energy Systems is headquartered in Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does ANU Centre for Energy Systems make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Research Grants and Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are collaborative Research Projects.
Who are ANU Centre for Energy Systems's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Sandia National Laboratories. Others are Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Smart Energy Council. Direct peers are Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Beyond Zero Emissions, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and University of New South Wales (UNSW) Energy Institute.
Does ANU Centre for Energy Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for ANU Centre for Energy Systems.
What industry is ANU Centre for Energy Systems in?
ANU Centre for Energy Systems's product category is Energy Systems Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMANAB, Permitting, Siting & Environmental Impact (EIA/NEPA) Advisory, with a secondary code of EUAEADAD, SCADA, Controls & Communications Integration (RTU, Fiber, Networking). Its NAICS code is 5415 and its SIC code is 7373.