Solar Citizens urges rapid enablement of 'batteries on wheels' for greater household energy independence
Solar Citizens has today released a new report outlining a national game plan for enabling vehicle-to-grid technology, known as ‘batteries on wheels’, saving households with electric vehicles up to $1000 a year and helping stabilise the energy grid.
V2G technology allows electric vehicle (EV) batteries to be used as mobile energy storage units, storing energy generated from rooftop solar when it is plentiful during the day, and discharging energy back to the grid or back to the home at night or during peak demand periods.
Consumers can be paid by Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs) for providing energy back to the energy grid at nominated times, which could generate billions of dollars for people with rooftop solar, electric vehicles and appropriate energy plans [1].
“The financial benefit for an EV owner participating in vehicle-to-grid services is estimated conservatively at $1000 per year, by acting as a ‘battery on wheels’, and being rewarded for sending clean, cheap solar energy feed back into the energy grid.
“In Canberra earlier this year, 16 EVs plugged in and taking part in an Australian National University trial were able to return power to the grid during a blackout emergency and help stabilise the grid.
“Australia is entering an exciting new era where households with rooftop solar and electric vehicles are no longer passive consumers, they will achieve energy independence and be a driving force as our energy grid moves away from reliance on polluting fossil fuel power.
“We need to get the right cars onto the Australian market, and we need the right equipment to plug them into our households. Solar Citizens calls on the Federal Government to implement the recommendations in our report as a priority,” Ms Douglas said.
