SwitchDin drive grid stability research with TRaCE support
Newcastle-based energy software firm SwitchDin are collaborating with the University of Newcastle on grid stability research backed by TRaCE funding.
The Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE) is supporting SwitchDin, a Newcastle-born energy software company, in a project to enhance grid stability as Australia transitions to renewable energy. The research will take place at the new Renewable Energy Integration Laboratory at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan Campus.
Led by Dr Colin Coates from the University of Newcastle, the project focuses on improving the Australian power network’s ability to handle grid challenges and maintain affordability. With the shift away from centralised coal and gas-fired stations to smaller-scale Customer Energy Resources (CER) such as household solar panels and battery storage, the project addresses a pressing need.
The team is developing and testing control algorithms that will allow disparate CERs to collectively deliver Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS). These services are essential for balancing electricity supply and demand in real time, which is critical for maintaining grid stability.
SwitchDin’s CEO, Mario Vecchio, emphasised the company’s commitment to the Hunter region. “A quarter of our staff are University of Newcastle alumni and we started in this region. We’re sticking to our roots as we’ve found the ecosystem of support and resources available here, including TRaCE and the University of Newcastle, are top class for energy projects like ours,” Vecchio said.
SwitchDin is the 11th recipient of a TRaCE R&D Voucher, which provides co-funding and resources to support early-stage research projects. TRaCE is an Australian Government-funded program delivered by the University of Newcastle and UNSW Sydney. It aims to fast-track clean energy and recycling solutions into Australian manufacturing.
TRaCE and Supporting Early-Stage R&D
The TRaCE R&D Voucher program helps small-to-medium enterprises and scale-ups reduce financial risks and accelerate their research and development efforts. The initiative supports feasibility validation and proof-of-concept work for technologies in four key areas: solar technology, green fuels, clean energy, and circular economy.
Through the program, participants gain access to research teams, university infrastructure, project management support, and matched funding between $10,000 and $50,000. This collaboration enables businesses to bring their innovations to market more quickly and efficiently.
By working with TRaCE, industry partners like SwitchDin can leverage the expertise and facilities available at the University of Newcastle and UNSW Sydney to address challenges in the clean energy transition and develop practical solutions for the Australian energy market.
