By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
On February 13, a transmission line in Victoria was brought down by freak winds, causing the state's largest power station to shut down and leading to power outages for 90,000 households. In response, 16 electric vehicles (EVs) plugged into a charger in Canberra, 500km away, began discharging their batteries back into the grid within six seconds.
This small yet significant contribution was part of the Realising Electric Vehicles to Grid Services (REVS) trial by the ACT government, which aimed to test the potential of EVs in managing the national electricity market.
The REVS trial involved 51 Nissan Leafs and demonstrated the ability of EVs to respond to grid emergencies, marking a world first according to Bjorn Sturmberg, a senior researcher at Australian National University. While EVs' potential to power homes and the grid has been well studied, this trial focused on their role in countering grid instability.
EV sales in Australia reached over 50,000 in the first half of 2024, a 16.5% increase from the previous year, and are projected to hit 100,000 annual sales for the first time. Although some, like the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), are cautious in their forecasts, AEMO's integrated system plan anticipates a significant surge in EV adoption, reaching 63 97% by 2050.
Future EV models are likely to include more vehicle to grid capabilities as manufacturers become confident that battery warranties will not be compromised. Jon Sibley, director of energy consultancy enX, notes that while vehicle to grid technology has been available, it has not met grid standards until now.
During the February incident, the 16 EVs used modified chargers capable of both charging and discharging, operating at a limit of 5 kilowatts each for 10 minutes. A study co authored by Sturmberg suggested that a fully electrified vehicle fleet could provide significant grid support, with just 2.25% of vehicles in New South Wales and the ACT needed to stop charging at 5kW to cover the required 700MW of flexible load for frequency contingency services.
However, the experiment also highlighted potential challenges, as only nine of the 16 vehicles resumed charging after 10 minutes, contrary to grid needs. Ensuring the proper timing and distribution of EV charging will be crucial, as their collective flexibility and substantial battery capacity can significantly impact grid stability.
Sturmberg emphasizes the importance of managing EV charging times to prevent grid overload, suggesting that user cooperation, possibly incentivized by exemptions from fuel excise, could be a small price to pay for maintaining grid reliability. He concludes that ensuring the grid's functionality is paramount for all electricity users.
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