
Energy Networks Australia’s primary vehicle for coordinated industry research, development and innovation.
The Australian Strategic Technology Program (ASTP) was set up primarily to provide funding for university research projects which have the potential to bring about improvements in asset management and network performance for electricity utilities, as well as exploring “non-network” solutions. The ATSP is a collaboration between Energy Networks Australia and the Australian Power Institute.
The ASTP Committee comprises of representatives from electrical distribution and transmission companies around Australia, with objectives to:
- Facilitate academic research activity in Australia, that will enhance the effectiveness of asset management and the network performance of electricity network assets;
- Encourage the development of practical solutions to improve electricity network performance, for both reliability of supply and power quality; and
- Stimulate the development of technology solutions for asset management and network performance problems from a range of private industry suppliers and universities.
Universities specialised in Power Engineering undertake a survey on their research capabilities and based on these results, university research skills are aligned to the priority network themes. The ASTP program advocates highly for a one-team approach where selected universities work together with network companies.
Completed Research Projects
Under the 2017-2018 ASTP, four projects were chosen depending on issues and themes that were of highest priorities to all networks. The 2017-2018 ASTP project titles and universities based on research capabilities.
The projects are:
- Management of Voltage in Low Voltage Networks by University of Wollongong
- Conductor Condition Monitoring by University of Queensland
- Quantifying Extreme Bushfire Consequences by Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC
- Solar Enablement Initiative by University of Queensland
All four projects began in July 2018 and will run for 18 months. A one-team approach was adopted and has proven to be successful.

Current Research Projects
Electric Vehicle (EV) integration into the electricity grid by the University of Melbourne
The project will aim to explore, with a range of both network-related and consumer-related research methodologies and tools, four key research areas:
- Customer acceptance and expectations around EVs;
- Distribution network impacts from unmanaged EVs;
- Distribution network integration of EVs using management strategies;
- Techno-economic network and system integration of EVs.
The Project is co-funded by Energy Networks Australia and the Centre for New Energy Technologies (C4NET). The University of Melbourne is leading the project in collaboration with Energy Queensland, Endeavour Energy, Jemena, AusNet Services, TasNetworks, Powerlink and CitiPower Powercor.
Other research projects
These projects are not under the ASTP program.
Preventing transformer failures caused by Silver Sulphide by the University of Queensland (Completed)
To investigate the use of dielectric response methods to detect the presence of insoluble silver sulphide particles in the transformer oil.
Electrical interaction between vegetation and overhead electricity conductors (upcoming)
Knowledge Sharing
An Energy innovation summit was held in Brisbane on 27-28 August 2019 where all current and future projects were discussed and presented to a wider audience. Members from industry and Universities brainstormed ideas and received feedback from participants.
An energy insider article was published by Energy Networks Australia on the findings of the ASTP program known as “an electric partnership for greater customer benefits”.
For further information, please contact the Program Co-ordinator at the Energy Networks Australia Secretariat.