Western Australia’s regional energy provider Horizon Power says it has successfully completed a 12-month vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trial in the resort town of Exmouth which shows the technology can be deployed in its remote micro-grids.
Horizon manages a host of small and local micro-grids across the vast expanse of the country’s biggest state, and it was keen to learn how the two-way flow of energy from electric vehicles (EVs) can be incorporated into such systems.
It provided four local groups and service organisations with two V2G-compatible Nissan Leaf EVs and V2G smart-charging equipment, and matched it with its Distributed Energy Resource Management System (Derms) that is has used to integrate rooftop solar and combine with weather forecasts that predicts the availability of solar energy.
“Having already proven effective in removing hosting capacity constraints so that more Horizon Power customers in regional WA can access rooftop solar, our Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) is now proving capable of supporting future EV integration at scale,” said Krystal Skinner, the acting CEO of Horizon Power.
“This trial is a shining example of our commitment to innovation and collaboration with our regions, supporting a resilient, scalable energy future.”
Vehicle-to-grid technology enables EVs to act as mobile energy storage systems. This means that EVs can charge when demand is lighter and cheaper, but it also means they can store excess energy from homes for use when demand is high and expensive, or even during power outages and extreme weather events.
V2G technology can also be used to help stabilise the grid.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.