Australia’s energy landscape is poised for a significant transformation with the release of the National Roadmap for Bidirectional Electric Vehicle Charging, commissioned by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) in partnership with RACE for 2030 and delivered by enX Consulting.

The Roadmap provides a clear pathway for industry and government stakeholders to implement policies and strategies that unlock the full potential of bidirectional EV charging for Australian consumers.

Bidirectional charging empowers electric vehicles (EVs) to not only draw power from the grid but also to send electricity back to the grid, homes, or other devices.

This groundbreaking technology essentially transforms EVs into “batteries on wheels”, providing a flexible energy source when and where it’s needed.

The potential benefits of bidirectional charging are vast, including energy storage capabilities for homes and businesses during power outages, reduced electricity bills for consumers, and enhanced grid stability through power supply during peak demand.

ARENA CEO, Darren Miller, emphasised the transformative potential of bidirectional charging, particularly Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, stating that EVs are “the future of distributed energy storage and represent a game-changing opportunity for Australia’s energy future”.

Miller highlighted the significant impact bidirectional charging could have on the National Electricity Market (NEM).

“By the early 2030s, the battery capacity of our electric vehicle fleet is projected to outstrip all other forms of energy storage in the National Electricity Market,” he said.

With projections estimating 1.5 million EVs on Australian roads by 2030, Miller noted that “even 10 per cent of those adopting V2G could meet 37 per cent of the NEM’s total storage needs while also giving Australians control over their contribution to the clean energy transition”.

The financial implications are also substantial. ARENA estimates that bidirectional charging could save Australians up to $5 billion by reducing the need for large-scale battery storage investments.

While the technology is not yet widely available, successful small-scale trials have paved the way for future implementation.

ARENA has been actively involved in advancing bidirectional charging since 2019, with the Roadmap being the latest in a series of initiatives, including the development of a national V2X market activation strategy.

Bidirectional charging represents a crucial step towards a more renewable, reliable, and affordable energy network for all Australians.