Two UNSW entities that are playing critical roles in the transition to renewables have been recognised for their work.
The Real Time Simulations Laboratory (RTS@UNSW) has won the 2026 AFR Energy Award for innovation, acknowledging its work recreating complex power systems on simulated energy networks.
And Gridsight , a start-up backed by UNSW Founders that builds a real-time digital twin of electricity distribution networks, has won for wellbeing, health and safety.
Supported by the UNSW Energy Institute , RTS@UNSW worked with industry partners to stress test new hardware before it reached the real grid. The award was for its work with energy provider AGL and energy developer Potentia Energy .
RTS@UNSW worked with AGL to demonstrate and validate the performance of is its grid-forming battery energy storage system in Broken Hill. It also developed a scaled-down platform for Potentia Energy to test the control of its battery energy storage system under realistic network conditions.
The initial investment for RTS@UNSW was made alongside the Solar Flagships Program to support the connection and integration of the first utility-scale solar plants in NSW. Since then, the research team has been supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency , the Australian Research Council and industry partners.
UNSW Sydney Associate Professor in Energy Systems Georgios Konstantinou, who leads the lab, said the award was recognition of work and effort over the past decade and the many people who have been building its capability.
"It's our capacity and ability to be able to test real equipment in the simulation loop that allows us to create the many iterations and conditions that can be experienced in the network but cannot be tested in real life," A/Prof. Konstantinou said.
"This would not be possible without the work of Dr Felipe Arraño Vargas, the research fellows, PhD students and post grads alongside the grants that have supported us for all this time."
UNSW Dean of Engineering Julien Epps congratulated A/Prof. Konstantinou and his team and the Energy Institute for this well-deserved award.
"The work that the Real Time Simulation laboratory is doing is critical to the nation's energy transition. Its ability to work with industry to provide and de-risk innovative solutions to increasingly complex problems is a great example of how universities are a crucial part of the huge change that is underway and will shape the way we all live," Prof. Epps said.
The UNSW Energy Institute supports the lab by facilitating the industry-research nexus.
Institute CEO Dani Alexander said the award reflected the success of the two projects with AGL and Potentia Energy, demonstrating how universities and industry can work together to solve technical problems and keep the lights on.
"Our researchers are developing the solutions that underpin the pathway to net zero electricity. We're often known for being the birthplace of modern solar technology and it's fantastic to be recognised for our world leadership in electricity networks as well," Ms Alexander said.
"I hope governments continue to have the foresight to invest in this area, including research facilities like RTS@UNSW, because the job is not going to get easier from here."
In its award submission RTS@UNSW said its work is crucial for meeting ambitious government targets to replace generation from ageing coal-fired generators. If further scaled, it can address many of the technical challenges associated with achieving Australia's target of 82% renewables by 2030 without compromising the reliability or security of the power system.
Our researchers are developing the solutions that underpin the pathway to net zero electricity. We're often known for being the birthplace of modern solar technology and it's fantastic to be recognised for our world leadership in electricity networks as well
Gridsight gives electricity distributors a real-time digital twin of their network, turning data into a single, accurate picture of grid capacity and constraints.
Its AFR Energy Award for wellbeing, health and safety relates to its ability to use AI to analyse the grid at scale and spot faults before they hurt anyone.
It crunches vast amounts of data from households and poles and wires, to find anomalies and autonomously dispatch crews to precise locations to fix faults.
UNSW Director of Entrepreneurship David Burt congratulated Gridsight on its success.
"Gridsight started with great founders tackling a difficult technical problem, and they've turned that into product trusted by major electricity networks around the world," he said.
"That journey from an idea at UNSW to now being critical infrastructure at global scale is exactly what university entrepreneurship can create. Gridsight is a wonderful reminder that the value of an idea is ultimately what you do with it."
