Amber is expanding its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program from 50 to 1000 Australian households as part of the country’s largest residential V2G rollout to date.
It builds on the initial 50-home trial announced in October last year, and highlights the growing demand for V2G solutions, where 6000 Australians are currently on a V2G waitlist.
Like it did for the initial trial, BYD will provide warranty for all electric vehicles (EVs) participating, which has been a key barrier to V2G adoption to this point.
Amber co-chief executive officer (CEO) Chris Thompson said the expansion has legitimised V2G as a viable solution.
“Our initial rollout proved it works,” he said. “1000 homes prove it scales. We’ve already seen a South Australian customer earn $500 in a single afternoon during a heat wave; customers can now save thousands annually through V2G.
“This expansion positions Australia as a world leader in V2G, and we see a future where millions of Australians buying EVs in the next few years can do the same.”
Thompson explained the intricacies of Amber’s V2G deal.
“Unlike other V2G plans that require minimum plug-in time and offer fixed price tariffs, Amber combines wholesale energy with smart automation so customers can earn the full value from their exports, power their homes through vehicle-to-home technology, and retain complete control,” he said.
The expansion supports the installation of V2G-capable chargers into customer homes, bolstered by a smart software solution integrated directly with Amber.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has also contributed $13.6 million to the program, bringing total funding to $16.8 million.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the expansion would address key barriers to V2G deployment in Australia.
“To unlock V2G at scale, we need to bring together customers, car makers, networks and technology providers,” he said. “A big part of that is giving manufacturers the confidence their vehicles will perform as expected, including through validated approaches to battery use and warranties.
“This project brings those pieces together to demonstrate how EVs can become an active part of the energy system. That means savings for owners and better utilisation of the grid, which can bring down the cost of the network for everyone.”
Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio said given one EV stores “five and a half times more energy than a typical home battery”, the V2G trial has potential to benefit the broader electricity system.
“When thousands of EVs feed power back at peak times, it puts downward pressure on costs for everyone, whether you’re in the trial or not,” she said.
Amber plans to launch a commercial product in 2026 to support greater V2G deployment across Australia.
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