The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded $3.2 million in funding to Amber Electric (Amber) to trial battery electric vehicle (BEV) smart charging and provision of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services for its residential customers.
Through this Australian-first residential trial, Amber is developing a software solution to facilitate BEV smart charging and V2G bi-directional charging which will include the installation of 100 smart chargers and 50 V2G chargers into suburban homes.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller says this is an exciting project that will provide insights into pathways for the commercialisation of smart charging and V2G applications, as well as uncover unique insights into consumer habits.
“With accelerating uptake of electric vehicles in Australia, this project will develop and demonstrate new ways for consumers to unlock value from their consumer energy resources and facilitate greater use of renewable energy,” Mr Miller said.
Around 1,000 customers will participate in the trial, located in the ACT, NSW, QLD, SA and VIC, across the next two years with the V2G scope expected to kick-off in mid-2025.
The solution will be built into Amber’s existing customer application to enhance its service offering, unlocking more value for BEV owners.
ARENA’s funding will help to support the development and implementation of the software solution for the $7.7 million trial, as well as the rollout of the chargers, the announcement outlined.
Amber co-CEO Dan Adams believes V2G and smart charging technology has the potential to be one of the most groundbreaking technologies to enter the Australian energy sector, as the country transitions to net-zero.
“This technology represents a transformative leap for energy storage in Australia, and the energy system as a whole,” Mr Adams said.
“By integrating electric vehicles with the grid and the wholesale energy market, we can reduce costs for consumers whilst accelerating the transition to renewable energy.
“Our customers will be able to directly compete with big coal and gas generators just by smart charging and discharging their EV battery. This innovation not only strengthens our energy infrastructure but also aligns with a commitment to a sustainable future.”
Insights gained through the project may inform policy across Australia and encourage other industry participants to follow in Amber’s efforts, ARENA has said.
The ARENA-funded V2X.au Summary Report (delivered by enX) highlights that the proper implementation of V2G infrastructure, when complemented with supportive network tariffs, can have significant benefits for consumers.
As part of the project, enX will lead an independent verification of Amber’s modelling to confirm potential customer savings and assess the ability for smart charging and V2G to support grid stability and the renewable transition.
The funding was awarded from the Driving the Nation Fund, which invests in cheaper and cleaner transport with a focus on supporting the uptake of battery electric vehicles through innovation in public charging and innovation in management of charging.
Since 2020, ARENA has announced grant funding of $97.4 million towards the decarbonisation of transport including public charging infrastructure, fleet decarbonisation and innovation in charging.
