Monash in the RACE for 2030

Powering Australia’s clean energy future

A record Federal Government investment in the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre is giving Monash researchers the chance to help transform the nation’s energy landscape.

By developing smart technologies that let homes and businesses match their energy use to renewable supply, we can cut costs, ease pressure on the grid, and accelerate the shift to net-zero.

From integrating large-scale wind and solar to building a more resilient network, Monash is working with RACE for 2030 to deliver clean, affordable energy for all.

Current Monash RACE projects

GridGuru

This project uses gaming, virtual reality and AI to create realistic energy network simulations. These models help explore how new technologies might be adopted, supporting better decision-making for industry, policy and communities in a changing energy landscape.Watch our webinar on the prototype
Scenarios for Future Living: putting people at the centre of the energy transition

This project will model how emerging technologies and changing social trends – like remote work and extreme weather – will shape energy use in Australian homes. It helps the energy sector plan and design more responsive, people-centred products, services and policies by focusing on how households adapt and evolve.
Energy Upgrades for Australian Homes

Australia’s older homes struggle with rising energy costs and extreme weather. This project focuses on energy-efficient upgrades that cut bills, lower emissions, and improve comfort – especially for vulnerable households. By developing tools and scalable models, it supports local groups to drive impactful home retrofit programs across the country.
Designing distributed renewable micro-grids for reliability

This research develops design and engineering principles for fully renewable microgrids that aim to surpass traditional networks in reliability. Using Planet Ark Power’s eleXsys technology, the project explores autonomous microgrid operation and integrated voltage management to enable seamless two-way energy flow.
Smart Charging Strategies for EVs in Smart Grids

This PhD project develops smart charging and discharging algorithms and an aggregator platform to help EV owners and fleet managers optimise energy use, reduce costs, and support grid integration—advancing Australia’s EV transition and carbon reduction goals.

Completed Monash RACE projects

Electric vehicles & the grid

This project brings together insights from industry and research to explore how electric vehicles (EVs) can support a smarter, cleaner energy system. It focuses on understanding the benefits and costs of EV integration, identifying barriers and enablers, and uncovering pathways for widespread EV adoption. The team aims to highlight opportunities that lower energy costs for consumers, reduce emissions, and unlock commercial potential in Australia’s evolving energy landscape.Read the Monash Lens article
Investigation into Voltage Management Technologies for Future Australian Suburban Distribution Networks

As more households adopt solar, batteries and electric vehicles, our low-voltage networks face growing pressure. This project tested an innovative solution to help distribution networks safely support more renewable energy without expensive infrastructure upgrades. Working with Planet Ark Power’s eleXsys technology, the team explored new ways to manage voltage across low- and medium-voltage networks. The project demonstrated how smart power electronics can boost hosting capacity and pave the way for 100% integration of distributed energy resources.
Identification, Key Management and Trust for Inverters for Distributed Energy Resources

As internet-connected inverters become standard, so do cybersecurity risks. This project is developing a secure framework to help energy operators manage device identities, track updates, and assess threats – ensuring safer, more resilient distributed energy networks.
Behind the Meter Forecasting & Optimisation

As more households and businesses generate their own electricity, grid stability becomes harder to manage. This project develops advanced control systems for Virtual Power Plants to better predict and coordinate thousands of connected energy assets, helping stabilise the grid while lowering costs for participants.
Incentivising within-day shifting of household electricity use

This project tested different incentive schemes to encourage households to shift electricity use to daytime when solar energy is abundant. Using a randomised controlled trial, it evaluated how financial and non-monetary rewards, as well as routine versus occasional actions, impact energy use, costs, and program success.
AI-ready flexible buildings to minimise carbon intensity

Buildings can store and release heat, acting like thermal batteries. This project develops smarter automation and cloud-based AI tools to analyse building data, helping to improve energy efficiency, increase renewable use, and reduce carbon emissions.
Business Fleets and BEVs: Taxation changes to support home charging from the grid, and affordability

Researchers explored how tax reforms could allow business fleets to charge electric vehicles at employees’ homes. This approach removes the barrier of costly on-site infrastructure, improves grid efficiency through smart charging, and speeds up the growth of a second-hand EV market – helping make electric mobility more affordable and accessible.Read the Monash Lens article

Monash Energy Institute

Monash Energy Institute

Monash in the RACE for 2030

Powering Australia’s clean energy future

Current Monash RACE projects

GridGuru

Scenarios for Future Living: putting people at the centre of the energy transition

Energy Upgrades for Australian Homes

Designing distributed renewable micro-grids for reliability

Smart Charging Strategies for EVs in Smart Grids

Completed Monash RACE projects

Electric vehicles & the grid

Investigation into Voltage Management Technologies for Future Australian Suburban Distribution Networks

Identification, Key Management and Trust for Inverters for Distributed Energy Resources

Behind the Meter Forecasting & Optimisation

Incentivising within-day shifting of household electricity use

AI-ready flexible buildings to minimise carbon intensity

Business Fleets and BEVs: Taxation changes to support home charging from the grid, and affordability