How Smart Energy Hubs optimise energy asset performance

Shell Energy’s Smart Energy Hubs are helping large customers unlock more value from their behind-the-meter energy assets, enhancing business energy efficiency. 

Powering our Smart Energy Hubs solution is a sophisticated, vertically integrated technology stack that works seamlessly behind-the-scenes to link separate energy assets across a business site. This advanced integration enables energy asset optimisation, providing enhanced control over the entire energy ecosystem. 

But how exactly does the Smart Energy Hubs tech stack work, and how does it deliver greater energy value compared to standalone energy efficiency projects? 

Smart Energy Hubs Tech Stack: The next evolution in energy management 

The Smart Energy Hubs technology stack is built for flexibility and scalability, empowering businesses to make smarter energy decisions to successfully navigate Australia’s energy transition. 

Our tech stack operates across five layers, delivering combined energy value: 

• Integration ‒ Connects on-site energy assets to the cloud for real-time data and control. This layer communicates with the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), ensuring seamless coordination. 
• Virtual Power Plant (VPP) ‒ Aggregates multiple battery storage units into a unified solution, helping to co-optimise multiple behind-the-meter assets for maximum efficiency and value. 
• Optimisation ‒ Forecasts energy price signals, demand tariffs, and optimal dispatch times. By analysing data from multiple layers, it determines the best times for energy usage and market participation, leveraging price forecasting and demand response strategies. 
• Market interface ‒ Engages directly with trading markets to maximise energy value. This layer integrates with market portals and trading teams, enabling strategic bidding and optimising revenue opportunities. 
• User interface ‒ Provides businesses with real-time visibility and control. Through aggregation, visualisation, and orchestration, this layer gives users complete visibility over their energy assets within the Smart Energy Hubs ecosystem, with Shell Energy providing management.  

This technology-driven approach delivers demand-side flexibility for commercial and industrial sites, ensuring that assets efficiently consume energy while generating additional revenue streams. 

Without the Smart Energy Hubs tech stack, accessing critical energy markets would be challenging. Our integrated energy management system serves as the backbone, providing the necessary infrastructure to unlock energy value streams such as behind-the-meter demand response. 

Through vertical integration with our retailing business, we effectively monetise energy value streams. By connecting more assets, we can tap into greater demand, reinforcing our leadership in smart energy solutions. 

The development journey 

One of the key factors that make Shell Energy’s Smart Energy Hubs tech stack so unique is its development process—an evolution driven by years of innovation and collaboration. The journey brought together our internal engineering teams, wholesale trading experts and real-world customer insights to create a technology stack that is intelligent, scalable, and flexible.   

How we developed an industry-leading energy solution 

• Customer and vendor collaboration ‒ Refining both the technology stack and commercial models to meet real-world needs. By integrating existing infrastructure and expanding with external vendors, we optimised the components of our tech stack. Close collaboration with vendors enabled improvements to their offerings, ultimately enhancing revenue streams. 
• Market access and compliance enhancements ‒ Working alongside trading experts to refine commercialisation strategies and ensure appropriate pricing structures. This process guarantees that our solutions remain commercially viable for customers while meeting regulatory requirements. 
• Global expertise ‒ Leveraging international energy market insights to stay ahead in an evolving energy landscape. Our international trading and technical teams provide critical insights, determining optimal bidding strategies and maximising market value. 
• Industry insights & technical knowledge ‒ Combining expertise from Shell Energy’s internal teams in collaboration with external industry leaders. By drawing on the knowledge of dozens of professionals, we ensure that our models and assets perform at their highest potential. 
• Trading expertise ‒ Our energy trading experts guide access to specific markets, optimise bidding strategies, and ensure regulatory adherence. 

Through continuous innovation, we have developed a robust, future-ready solution that not only addresses today’s energy challenges but also anticipates the demands of the future. 

Your revenue opportunity 

Smart Energy Hubs, powered by our advanced tech stack, go beyond simply managing energy consumption; they transform standalone assets into income-generating resources.  

As we transition towards a low-carbon energy future, demand-side flexibility is becoming essential for grid stability. Smart Energy Hubs are more than just a service; they represent a long-term partnership, empowering businesses to play an active role in the energy transition.   

By integrating assets into a Smart Energy Hub, businesses can: 

• Unlock new revenue opportunities 
• Enhance energy efficiency and flexibility