The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has granted $3.2 million to Amber Electric for a residential trial focusing on battery electric vehicle (BEV) smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services. 

BEV smart charging is a system that optimises the charging of electric vehicles by using software to determine the best times to charge. 

This ensures the vehicle is charged during periods of low electricity demand or when renewable energy is abundant, reducing costs and easing the load on the power grid.

Vehicle-to-Grid technology allows electric vehicles to return stored energy to the power grid. 

When connected, vehicles can supply electricity during peak demand times or when renewable energy is scarce, helping to stabilise the grid and enhance the use of renewable energy sources.

The new ARENA initiative will develop software enabling BEV smart charging and V2G bi-directional charging, with plans to install 100 smart chargers and 50 V2G chargers in participants' homes.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller highlighted the project's potential to explore commercialisation pathways for smart charging and V2G technology, which he says will offer insights into consumer habits and facilitate greater use of renewable energy. 

“This project will develop and demonstrate new ways for consumers to unlock value from their consumer energy resources and facilitate greater use of renewable energy,” he said.

Over two years, 1,000 customers from the ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, and VIC will participate, with the V2G component starting in mid-2025. 

The software will be integrated into Amber’s existing app, enhancing services for BEV owners and accelerating the renewable energy transition.

ARENA says the funding will allow participants to use their vehicles as “batteries on wheels” to support grid stability and renewable energy integration.

“By integrating electric vehicles with the grid and the wholesale energy market, we can reduce costs for consumers whilst accelerating the transition to renewable energy,” says 

Amber co-CEO Dan Adams.

The proponents say insights from the project may inform policy and encourage industry adoption of similar initiatives. 

The ARENA-funded V2X.au Summary Report by enX highlights the consumer benefits of V2G infrastructure and suggests it could become a major, cost-effective energy storage source.

Amber’s $7.7 million project will also explore the scalability of this initiative, with enX independently verifying customer savings and assessing smart charging and V2G's impact on grid stability and the renewable transition.

The funding is part of the Driving the Nation Fund, which supports battery electric vehicle uptake through public charging innovations and charging management.