29 March 2023
ActewAGL and a consortium of industry partners have finalised a world-first project driving electric vehicle (EV) innovation, paving the way for further Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) innovation in Australia. Integrating V2G capable EVs into the energy ecosystem by 2040 could offset billions of dollars of investment in dispatchable storage.
The Realising Electric Vehicle-to-Grid Services (REVS) project commenced during 2020, to demonstrate the feasibility of EVs and chargers injecting power back into the grid when more supply is needed than is otherwise readily available.
The REVS project entailed a whole-of-industry collaboration which included ActewAGL (energy retailer), ACT Government (fleet owner), Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program - Australian National University (research), Evoenergy (electricity network owner), JET Charge (charging infrastructure), Nissan (vehicle manufacturer) and SG Fleet (fleet manager). ActewAGL was awarded $2.7m as part of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) Advancing Renewables Program, with the other project team stakeholders collectively contributing a further $3.86m to fund the project.
Building on the knowledge of early international trials which tested aspects of V2G services, the REVS project included several Australian-first initiatives which have been fundamental in uncovering the barriers and potential solutions for the use of this technology within Australia. The REVS project introduced the first bi-directional charger approved for use in Australia, deployed 51 V2G EVs providing grid frequency services and simulated grid disturbances to demonstrate bi-directional charging is a robust technical solution.
This innovative project demonstrates the importance of knowledge sharing across industries, with 12 reports developed and 45 events hosted across the transport, finance, energy and research sectors. Key learnings from REVS provide insights to support the broader uptake of V2G services, including addressing network regulation, supply and existing infrastructure.
The future of V2G will continue to see whole-of-industry collaboration as the scale, performance and broader integration of V2G into the energy ecosystem continues to be explored. As the technology becomes more readily available and is increasingly deployed, there will be greater insights into the value customers and the entire industry can derive from V2G services.
"We've proven that EVs have a significant purpose beyond transport, to provide critical energy services to the grid," says ActewAGL Group Manager Energy Transition Products, Todd Eagles.
"This is a huge development, and means EVs can now be used to help solve a broader range of energy challenges, while still achieving the original purpose of transportation. By using V2G technology, EVs will play a critical role in decarbonising transport and providing support to the broader energy ecosystem as we transition towards net zero emissions."
“REVS has us on our way to developing world-class V2G services in Australia, providing the opportunity to add V2G into the mix as one of the many key elements that will support the wider energy ecosystem as we increase the uptake of renewable energy,” he says.
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The REVS project consortium partners