Monash experts: Petrol prices, power bills and EVs - are we ready for the surge?
Monash University
Monash experts are available to comment on the increased demand for EVs and electrifying households during the fuel crisis, contending with associated cost-of-living pressures, and whether Australia’s electricity grid is ready for the potential surge in power usage.
Professor Yolande Strengers, Director (Research) Monash Energy Institute and Associate Director (Energy Futures) at the Emerging Technologies Research Lab, Faculty of Information Technology
Contact via: +61 450 501 248 or [email protected]
Read more of Yolande’s commentary.
- Household energy trends in response to the fuel crisis
- Energy hardship and social outcomes
- Home strategies in times of crisis
The following can be attributed to Professor Strengers:
“We’re seeing a significant increase in interest and sales for EVs in the current fuel crisis. Australians are already at the forefront of seeking energy resilience and independence through their investment in rooftop solar PV and home batteries, and the crisis has given households who can afford it another push in that direction.
“With fuel prices putting extra pressure on cost of living, we need to be careful that the most vulnerable members of society don’t get left behind. More households are likely to face energy hardship by experiencing difficulty in paying their bills in the current climate.
“Vulnerable households like low-income households, renters and people living in apartments are also less able to shelter from the impact and risks through investment in EVs, rooftop solar PV and home batteries.
“The home becomes a safe haven in times of crisis. Australian households are already well-versed at working from home where they can, and prepping or storing for significant disruptions like covid and extreme weather events. They are likely to turn to these strategies again in the current crisis, to shelter from cost-of-living impacts and build resilience.”
Dr Terrence Mak, Department of Data Science & AI, Faculty of Information Technology
Contact via: +61 450 501 248 or [email protected]
- Energy system market and operations
- Grid planning, stability, and optimisation
- Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging
The following can be attributed to Dr Mak:
“Currently the country is experiencing crude oil and refined fuel shortages due to the Iranian conflict. The effect of these shortages may soon be felt in the transport and manufacturing sector in Australia.
“Oil is used for only 1.7 per cent of the electricity generated in Australia so the crisis is unlikely to impact the availability of power in the country.
“The fuel crisis is a wake up call for the country to move to more electrification and better contingency management on fuel supply. We are already seeing higher demand for electric vehicles and households electrifying gas-based appliances.
“Australia’s power grids are well-equipped to handle the potential increased uptake of EVs and electrification in the coming months.
“The key issue here is actually about the storage of excess solar and wind-powered energy produced in Australia. Essentially, we are generating more electricity through renewable sources than we can store. Increased adoption of EVs will actually help this issue since the cars essentially are mobile storage batteries.
“This surge in EV adoption will also help to better leverage the existing Vehicle-to-Grid infrastructure and technologies. It will also help improve and evolve the capabilities of Australia’s power grids as we transition towards potentially 100 per cent renewable energy.”
For any other topics on which you may be seeking expert comment, contact the Monash University Media Unit on +61 3 9903 4840 or [email protected]