Latest news with #RobAmphlettLewis
The Age
3 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Power giant warns of ‘two-speed' green shift which benefits only the rich
Millions of Australians face being left behind in the race to greener energy, one of the nation's largest power distributors has warned, as renters miss out on huge savings from solar panels while homes without off-street parking cannot install electric vehicle chargers. From this year, home-owners with solar panels stand to benefit from even bigger electricity bill cuts following the introduction of federal government rebates wiping thousands of dollars off the cost of installing batteries that can soak up their excess energy. Increasing home battery uptake has many advantages: it will enable Australia to harness more of its world-leading per-person solar panel uptake to use after sunset, drive down greenhouse gas emissions and smooth out volatile price swings across the market. But the household clean energy boom may create winners and losers, warns Ausgrid, the largest power distribution company on Australia's eastern seaboard. The company points to renters and lower-income Australians who are unable to make the switch and are forced to stay on increasingly expensive fossil fuel-based energy supplies. 'The problem we see is that if you don't own your own home, or have the financial wherewithal, you are faced with the full system cost of the transition,' said Rob Amphlett Lewis, Ausgrid's group executive of distributed services. Loading 'What we are in danger of is a two-speed transition that works for the 'haves' and is paid for by the 'have-nots'.' Ausgrid and other Australian distribution network service providers are seeking to expand their reach beyond building and maintaining the network's poles and wires and into other future-facing functions where they believe they are well placed to deliver more efficient outcomes for consumers. Their push, however, has opened a major new rift in the industry between network operators and a wide range of other electricity market participants, which are urging regulators against any waiver from 'ring-fencing' rules designed to prevent monopolies from encroaching on competitive markets, and argue it could drive up costs.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Power giant warns of ‘two-speed' green shift which benefits only the rich
Millions of Australians face being left behind in the race to greener energy, one of the nation's largest power distributors has warned, as renters miss out on huge savings from solar panels while homes without off-street parking cannot install electric vehicle chargers. From this year, home-owners with solar panels stand to benefit from even bigger electricity bill cuts following the introduction of federal government rebates wiping thousands of dollars off the cost of installing batteries that can soak up their excess energy. Increasing home battery uptake has many advantages: it will enable Australia to harness more of its world-leading per-person solar panel uptake to use after sunset, drive down greenhouse gas emissions and smooth out volatile price swings across the market. But the household clean energy boom may create winners and losers, warns Ausgrid, the largest power distribution company on Australia's eastern seaboard. The company points to renters and lower-income Australians who are unable to make the switch and are forced to stay on increasingly expensive fossil fuel-based energy supplies. 'The problem we see is that if you don't own your own home, or have the financial wherewithal, you are faced with the full system cost of the transition,' said Rob Amphlett Lewis, Ausgrid's group executive of distributed services. Loading 'What we are in danger of is a two-speed transition that works for the 'haves' and is paid for by the 'have-nots'.' Ausgrid and other Australian distribution network service providers are seeking to expand their reach beyond building and maintaining the network's poles and wires and into other future-facing functions where they believe they are well placed to deliver more efficient outcomes for consumers. Their push, however, has opened a major new rift in the industry between network operators and a wide range of other electricity market participants, which are urging regulators against any waiver from 'ring-fencing' rules designed to prevent monopolies from encroaching on competitive markets, and argue it could drive up costs.
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Aussie car owners offered lucrative side hustle
Australian EV owners will now be able to power their homes using their cars and sell energy back into the grid following a groundbreaking initiative. The move marks a major step forward for renewable energy, allowing EV owners with the right car and hardware to power their homes during a blackout, absorb excess solar energy to pump back into the house during periods of peak demand, and sell energy back to power providers. Customers with Ausgrid — the largest distributor in New South Wales, covering more than 1.7 million homes across Sydney, The Central Coast, and the Hunter Valley — can now apply to have vehicle-to-grid (V2G) electric car hardware installed. The two-way flow of energy transforms EVs into mobile batteries, capable of supporting the network during peak times and providing a new level of energy independence for customers. Group Executive of Distributed Services, Rob Amphlett Lewis, said tapping into V2G is an exciting milestone that unlocks new opportunities for customers and the grid. 'We've done the foundational work to understand how to integrate this V2G technology safely and effectively, and our customers can now begin to benefit,' he said. 'Customers can use their EV batteries to sell excess energy back to the grid during peak times and recharge at off-peak rates, creating an additional source of income.' Ausgrid joins SA Power Networks in South Australia and Essential Energy in NSW in offering support for V2G. Bi-directional charging has been technically possible for years; however, there are only available in cars like the Nissan Leaf EV and Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid. However, more car models are expected to unlock this capability with the correct wallbox and software. While Ausgrid, SA Power Networks, and Essential Energy now support V2G, there are still several other distributors in Australia that have yet to offer the technology. In November 2024, Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, announced new standards for V2G and vehicle-to-home (V2H) at the Sydney International EV AutoShow. At the time, he said this technology would be made available by the end of that calendar year. The sluggish rollout is dependent on approvals for cables, permission from carmakers and agreements with individual companies. Regulatory red tape had previously prevented owners from taking advantage of the tech. However, Standards Australia has now approved regulations for vehicle-to-grid charging, allowing electric vehicle owners to power their homes and feed energy back into the grid. Fatima Bazzi, Head of Customer Connections, further highlighted the significance of this development, saying, 'V2G allows EVs to discharge energy back to the grid during periods of high demand, alleviating stress on the network and improving overall grid performance.' 'This means we can better manage network stress, improve overall grid performance, and potentially defer costly infrastructure upgrades, ultimately benefiting all our customers.'
