AI-Driven Energy Management Platform

Project Lead: Dr Foad Taghizadeh, Macquarie University
Project Partners: Smartizer 

Project Overview

The project involves developing an AI-driven energy management platform with a modular, plug-and-play battery system that integrates with EV chargers and solar inverters. Its standout feature is AI-driven behavioral modeling and generative capabilities, which adapt to user preferences and optimise energy usage in real-time. This system enhances renewable energy utilisation, manages battery schedules, and supports EV bidirectional G2V and V2X functions. It also offers flexibility for scaling, relocating, or reselling assets. By reducing upfront costs and ensuring quick payback, it promotes sustainable home energy practices, maximising savings, comfort, and returns on green energy investments.

In collaboration with Smartizer Pty Ltd, we are proposing the development of an AI- driven energy management platform, an advanced SyncHub with modular plug-and-play battery, capable of integrating electric vehicle (EV) charger and solar inverter. A unique feature of the proposed system is its AI-driven behavioural modelling and generative capabilities, which adapt to user preferences and optimise energy usage in real-time. Leveraging this advanced capability, the system optimises renewable energy utilisation, battery charging/discharging schedules, and EV bidirectional G2V, and V2X functions, while offering the flexibility to scale, relocate, or resell key assets. By minimising upfront costs and ensuring quick payback, it removes barriers to sustainable home energy practices, allowing users to maximise savings, comfort, and return on their green energy investments.

The proposed system has been developed and has met TRL 4 through laboratory verification. The aim is to advance it to TRL 6, with demonstrations in an operational environment. 

Objectives and Deliverables

Objective 1: Hardware Development: Develop a prototype of modular, plug-and-play AI-driven energy management system, aiming to advance it to TRL 6. The prototype will feature a gateway, smart load control, a modular battery, and SyncHub as core components. This development will enhance the system’s readiness for broader adoption. 

Objective 2: AI-Driven Software Development: Create a web app and cloud feed equipped with advanced AI-driven behavioural modelling and generative capabilities. This software will adapt to user preferences, optimising energy usage in real-time and ensuring efficient operation batteries, EV charger and solar inverter. 

Objective 3: Certification and Field Testing: The prototype will undergo rigorous testing by authorised centres to obtain necessary approvals, including certification under the Australian grid standard A4777. After certification, it will be installed in five homes across NSW for field testing to evaluate performance, reliability, and user acceptance, refining the product before its commercial launch. 

Impact to Net Zero Targets

Achieving Net-Zero targets requires a significant increase in residential battery adoption. According to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), to meet future energy demands, residential battery capacity in Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) must rise from the current 0.2 GW to 3.7 GW by 2029-30, and further escalate to 37 GW by 2049-50. However, Smartizer’s recent market research identifies major barriers to widespread adoption, including high initial costs and a lack of consumer knowledge about integrating and benefiting from these systems. 

To address these challenges, our project introduces a transformative AI-driven energy management system which is an advanced SyncHub with modular plug-and- play battery, capable of integrating EV charger and solar inverter. This system is particularly designed to make residential battery systems more accessible and appealing. Our approach features modular and swappable batteries, a significant advancement from traditional, fixed systems. This modular design allows customers to start with a smaller, more affordable battery system, which can be expanded as needed. By breaking down the battery into cost-effective units, we reduce the financial barrier to entry and offer a more flexible solution for homeowners.

In addition to modularity, our platform incorporates advanced AI-driven load control strategies. By shifting energy usage from peak times to more cost-effective periods, the system maximises efficiency and shortens the payback period for homeowners. This intelligent load management, combined with the flexibility of starting with a minimal battery size, significantly lowers overall costs and enhances economic appeal. Moreover, the ability to relocate or resell the battery system adds value, especially for renters or those who may move. Unlike traditional home assets that are fixed, our modular batteries can be easily transported or sold, ensuring that the investment remains valuable regardless of changes in the homeowner’s living situation. This flexibility encourages more homeowners to invest in residential battery systems, supporting the broader goal of Net-Zero emissions. 

In summary, our platform is designed to overcome barriers to residential battery adoption by providing a cost-effective, flexible, and customer-friendly solution. By integrating modular battery design with intelligent load control, we lower initial costs and offer a quick return on investment, motivating more homeowners to adopt this technology and contribute to achieving Net-Zero targets.