Vehicle-to-grid tech gets green light for Australian market

Close-up view of electric vehicle charging (calculator EV)
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Electricity distributor Essential Energy, CSIRO, Sigenergy, and AUSEV have jointly announced vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology is market ready following trials.

Essential Energy has successfully connected the AUSEV’s Ford F-150 Lightning with a combined charging system (CCS2) DC bi-directional charger and the Clean Energy Council-approved Sigenergy storage system.

Related article: First Aussie-made V2G bi-directional EV chargers underway

The announcement has given the green light for customers to use this combination on the Essential Energy network.

“V2G unlocks the potential for customers to get more value out of their renewable energy investments and is a critical step in facilitating the uptake of electric vehicles. We have been trialling V2G on our network since 2023 with a customer using his Nissan Leaf and the Wallbox Quasar charger,” Essential Energy chief operating officer Luke Jenner said.

“Last year, we started working with CSIRO on an additional trial at our Innovation Hub in Port Macquarie and recent tests have confirmed that the Sigenergy SigenStor CCS2 DC bi-directional charger and the AUSEV Ford F-150 Lightning work effectively on our network.”

The partnership with CSIRO is to research and trial vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology as part of a home electricity management system and to understand how it can be integrated into buildings and the electricity grid.

CSIRO project leader Dr Sam Behrens said the development was a key transition step in supporting rooftop solar and grid stability in Australia.

“This pilot project marks an important milestone for Australia, successfully demonstrating a CCS2 bi-directional charger with a market available V2G-capable vehicle. This is significant as it opens the way for wider adoption of commonly available CCS2-compatible V2G technology, enabling households and utilities to use EVs as flexible energy resources,” he explained.

Sigenergy managing director Australia and New Zealand Will Hall says the company was proud to partner with industry leaders to successfully deploy V2G technology in Australia.

Related article: ARENA publishes roadmap to bidirectional EV charging

“At Sigenergy, we believe innovation is meaningful only when it translates into real-world impact. As the first to commercialise bi-directional charging in the energy industry, we are pushing the boundaries of energy flexibility and unlocking new possibilities for a smarter, more resilient grid. Our vision is to turn cutting-edge solutions into tangible benefits for users, while accelerating the transition to a more sustainable energy future,” he said.

The Sigenergy SigenStor energy storage system with integrated V2G charger is Clean Energy Council approved and can be installed on the Essential Energy network through the existing solar connection process.

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