Sense has been selected to join the 2025 EnergyLab Scaleup Program,Add Post strengthening its involvement in Australia’s grid decarbonisation and bushfire risk reduction efforts.
The company’s grid-edge intelligence software, which transforms smart meters into AI-powered data platforms, earned it a place in the initiative alongside other global innovators addressing key challenges in Australia’s energy transition.
The EnergyLab program partners with major players in the Australian energy sector – including Endeavour Energy, Powerlink, and TEPCO Power Grid – to fast-track the deployment of technologies that support a safer and more resilient grid.
Sense’s Head of Australia, Dave Johnson, said the company’s software is already being deployed in the United States and is on track to become available to millions of Australian households.
“EnergyLab is important to Sense as we localise and scale Sense’s solutions in Australia. EnergyLab’s deep knowledge and insights, coupled with Sense AI technology unlocks new ways for Australian energy regulators, networks, and retailers to address energy transition challenges,” Johnson said.
According to EnergyLab, this year’s program selected startups working across areas such as vegetation management, asset monitoring, climate resilience, and AI-powered grid insights.
Johnson explained that Sense’s high-resolution data analytics not only reveal real-time insights about the grid’s health, but also detect emerging issues that are currently invisible to most operators.
“Sense not only provides incredible new data insights, but identifies trends and patterns that grid operators, Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs), and meter coordinators can’t see today,” he said. “That includes making new grid edge CER loads such as EV chargers visible, and helping better plan for the future.”
Sense’s AI-driven software operates directly on the next generation of smart meters, making them intelligent sensors at the grid edge.
This enables rapid detection of grid anomalies and energy usage patterns behind the meter, offering deeper insight from the primary side of the grid all the way into the household level.
“This new visibility spans from the primary side through to the secondary side, all the way to behind the meter—an area that is usually invisible today to grid operators,” Johnson said.
“Intelligence at the edge of the grid provides deeper insight, allowing operators to address a number of problems and shift from reactive to proactive management.”
The system can also identify potentially fatal home electrical faults such as floating neutrals caused by deteriorating wiring or improper DIY installations.
Unlike traditional monitoring systems, Sense does not rely on additional IoT devices and performs its analysis within the meter itself, significantly reducing cloud processing costs.
Megan Fisher, CEO of EnergyLab, said the program fosters collaboration between emerging tech firms and Australian energy stakeholders to tackle the sector’s toughest challenges.
“The program offers Australian energy companies a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technologies from around the world, while giving global startups valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of Australia’s net zero transition,” Fisher said.
“Australia is a leading global player for renewable energy on the grid, but there are still many challenges we have to overcome to get to 82% by 2030,” she added.
Johnson said the participation of key energy utilities makes the EnergyLab Scaleup Program particularly effective in bringing innovations like Sense’s to deployment.
“The participation of innovative thought leading energy utilities makes this program ‘pilot-ready’ rather than just theoretical,” he said. “Sense’s participation in the EnergyLab Scaleup Program marks a pivotal step in delivering scalable, data-driven solutions for Australia’s evolving energy landscape.”
He added that Sense is looking forward to deeper engagement with Australian network operators, regulators and retailers.
“Sense looks forward to collaborating with network operators, regulators and retailers who are recognising the network essential need to uplift safety, visibility, and customer engagement across the energy system,” Johnson said.
