In February 2024, a severe storm near Melbourne caused widespread power outages, impacting half a million Victorian customers and disrupting the national energy grid. Remarkably, during this crisis, electric vehicles (EV's) in Canberra were mobilised to assist the grid by feeding stored power back, marking a potential world-first use of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology in an emergency.
Sixteen out of a fleet of 51 ACT government EV's were connected to V2G chargers, supplying around 100 kilowatts of power to the grid, which helped stabilise the supply-demand balance. While this contribution was limited, experts like Dr. Bjorn Sturmberg from the Australian National University highlight that a larger fleet of EV's could significantly support grid stability during high demand or outages.
V2G technology, which allows EV's to discharge power back into the grid, offers a promising solution for integrating renewable energy and enhancing grid reliability. If scaled up, it could contribute substantially to Australia's energy needs and facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels. However, participation in such schemes would remain voluntary for drivers, ensuring control over their vehicle's energy usage.
If you would like to explore EV or other cost saving options, contact us below.
Comments