Lachlan Blackhall

Professor Lachlan Blackhall serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at the Australian National University (ANU). Previously, he was the Entrepreneurial Fellow and Head of the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program (BSGIP). He holds a BE, BSc, and PhD in engineering and applied mathematics. His research focuses on optimizing solar energy systems, battery storage, and virtual power plant technologies to enhance grid stability and energy market participation. He is a leader in advancing zero-carbon energy solutions for Asia-Pacific regions.

Professional Affiliations:

• Senior Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Fellow, Institution of Engineers Australia (IEAust)
• Fellow, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE)

Research Contributions: Professor Blackhall pioneered world-first capabilities for monitoring and optimizing residential solar-battery systems, enabling energy aggregation via virtual power plants. His work integrates engineering, data science, and policy to address climate resilience and energy transition challenges. He leads ANU initiatives like the Zero Carbon Energy for the Asia-Pacific (ZCEAP) program and the Resilience Initiative for Food and Agriculture (RIFA).

Grants & Outreach: His projects include federal and international grants for energy storage research. He actively engages policymakers to inform climate and energy strategies at national and global levels. His team’s annual reports highlight breakthroughs in energy emissions monitoring and disaster risk mitigation.

Labs & Teams: Directs the BSGIP (https://bsgip.com/about/) and collaborates with ANU’s Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions. His research groups focus on smart grid technologies, industrial decarbonisation, and food-energy-water nexus solutions.