Essential Energy’s Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) initiative has been recognised for sector-leading innovation and delivering tangible customer benefits, winning the Industry Innovation category at the 2025 Energy Networks Australia (ENA) Awards in Melbourne on September 11.
Developed in collaboration with CSIRO, Sigenergy and AUSEV, the project saw the launch of Australia’s first market-ready V2G solution, enabling electric vehicles to operate as flexible energy assets.
The technology, tested at Essential Energy’s Innovation Hub in Port Macquarie, represents the first Combined Charging System 2 (CCS2) V2G solution accessible for all customers on the Essential Energy network.
It allows EV owners to power their homes, support the grid, and in future export energy back to the market.
Brad Thomas, General Manager Asset Management and Engineering at Essential Energy, said the initiative reflects a significant step forward for both customers and the broader energy system.
“V2G will give customers more control over their energy use and unlock new value from their investments,” he said.
“We’re proud to be leading the way in making V2G a practical, scalable solution for customers across regional, rural and remote New South Wales.”
Building on the initial success, Essential Energy and CSIRO have extended their partnership for another five years to strengthen the technology and test real-world deployment across households, communities and network applications.
The next phase will focus on simplifying customer use, enhancing control systems and standards, and testing compatibility across a wider range of EV manufacturers and charging hardware.
Dr Sam Behrens, CSIRO Senior Research Engineer, said collaboration with more partners will be critical to scaling the initiative.
“With more partners, we can ensure that V2G solutions are robust, cost-effective, and reliably integrated into homes and the grid.
“We see enormous opportunity ahead, not just for EV owners, but for the broader energy sector and communities,” he said.
Essential Energy said the award win demonstrates its commitment to delivering innovative, impactful solutions to customers.
“As the energy landscape continues to evolve, we’re proud of our teams for their efforts to build a more resilient and inclusive future for our communities,” the company noted.
Essential Energy operates one of Australia’s largest electricity distribution networks, servicing more than 900,000 customers across regional, rural and remote communities.
Its network footprint covers 95 per cent of New South Wales and parts of southern Queensland, spanning 737,000 square kilometres and incorporating 1.4 million power poles.
The organisation continues to play a central role in enabling renewable connections and supporting the national energy transition.
