A major Australian research project has received $1.55 million in federal funding to identify unused capacity within the nation’s electricity networks and deliver more renewable energy to consumers.
Researchers from the University of Wollongong (UOW) will provide technical leadership for the project, titled “Unlocking the Latent Network Capacity via Soft Open Point and Dynamic Limit.”
Electricity bottlenecks occur when power flow becomes constrained in one part of the network, despite spare capacity being available elsewhere. The new project will develop an intelligent decision-support system capable of detecting these constraints and identifying safe ways to redirect electricity through the existing grid.
The technology will use Soft Open Points—smart devices that can flexibly redirect power—and Dynamic Limits, which adjust network capacity according to real-time operating conditions.
The project is one of 14 initiatives supported under the Australian Government’s $30 million Grid Enhancing Technologies Grant Program.
According to UOW, the proposed system will provide electricity network operators with a broader view of the grid, forecast emerging bottlenecks and recommend safe options for redirecting electricity to areas where it is needed most.
Distinguished Professor Kashem Muttaqi, Director of UOW’s ARC Future Grids Training Centre, said parts of Australia’s electricity network can experience heavy pressure while nearby infrastructure remains underused. The project aims to help operators identify that spare capacity and use it more effectively without compromising the safety or reliability of the power system.
Professor Muttaqi will work with Professor Danny Sutanto, Associate Professor Ashish Agalgaonkar and Associate Professor Rabiul Islam. The research team will collaborate with UNSW Sydney and industry partners BES Australia, Essential Energy, Ingeteam Australia and Sungrow Australia Group.
BES Australia will lead project delivery and system integration, while UOW will oversee network modelling, optimisation, digital-twin development, laboratory validation and field testing.
The team also plans to establish a repeatable deployment model that could enable the technology to be adopted across electricity networks throughout Australia.
If successful, the project could allow more renewable energy to reach homes and businesses through existing infrastructure, reduce pressure on congested parts of the grid and support Australia’s transition towards net-zero emissions by 2050.
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