CSIRO is partnering with start-up company Ecocentric under a licensing and research agreement o further develop the Numen energy system.

This system increases energy efficiency in buildings by recognising the electrical ‘fingerprint’ of individual appliances.

To do this it brings together a building’s total energy signal, identifies the appliances there and then separates out appliance-specific consumption data based on how much energy the appliance is using.

Numen was produced collaboratively using CSIRO algorithms and CSIRO-developed ‘cognitive metering’ technology, which identifies individual appliances using a unique signature of high-frequency electrical data. The advanced machine learning algorithms are then used to measure appliance power consumption without needing to meter them individually.

The system uses cloud-based technology to monitor energy consumption in real time and allows automatic identification of metered electrical devices. This provides better understanding and prediction of energy use patterns and predicts faults for pre-emptive maintenance.

CSIRO energy director Karl Rodrigues said the system had significant potential to improve energy intelligence.

“The energy domain is experiencing an increased focus in the megatrend ‘digital immersion’, affecting both domestic and commercial energy consumers,” Karl said.

“Our research is helping drive the next wave of productivity and efficiency in energy consumption.”

Ecocentric CEO Tim Bray is excited by Numen’s commercial prospects, as well as its potential to lower energy use in the built environment.

“Numen will be a part of Australia’s contribution to a more energy efficient future,” Tim said.

“There is no waste in nature, that’s a human phenomenon.”

As part of the agreement Ecocentric will obtain license from CSIRO to the cognitive metering technology and will work with CSIRO for six years to refine the system.