The look and function of Australian homes have dramatically changed over the last 30 years. Backyards have been a victim of shrinkflation and a home now serves as the central entertainment hub for Aussie families. The 2010s marked a shift towards energy independence with the gradual adoption of home solar energy. As technology improves in leaps and bounds and Australians look to remove their tether to ‘big fossil fuels’, battery storage and bidirectional EV charging are set to replace the home energy standard as we know it. What will the future of Australian homes look like and what will be considered stock-standard home features?
The ever-changing Australian home
If you want to assess the cultural shift of a society, look into their backyards. Growing up in the 90s, you’d be hard-pressed to find a detached home without a trampoline, a swing set, and the smell of shrimp on the barbie. If you didn’t hear yells and laughs from the backyard then you’d find it out on the streets. As block sizes decreased and screentime increased, the sound of children playing dwindled. The shift to indoor activities, and the taxing nature of video games, large screen TVs, device charging, and daily mod cons, have taken their toll on electricity bills.
The advent of affordable solar was, arguably, one of the greatest impacts on modern home energy. Where we were once at the behest of electricity retailers, the ability to control one’s energy usage was now a practical reality. As with all new technologies, solar was not without drawbacks. Whilst now in the realm of affordable in 2010, it was still prohibitive for many, especially the 31% who rent and the 9% living in apartments/units. The attractive rewards of high feed-in tariffs dwindled, making the use of solar during the day the only realistic way to save money. Most Aussie households use the majority of their electricity outside of daylight hours. This would have seen us at an energy independence impasse were it not for the Tesla Powerwall in 2016.
Battery storage changing the energy landscape of Australia
The dread of a new electricity bill has been exacerbated year-on-year as wholesale energy prices increase. Thanks to home battery storage, the allure of producing, storing, and using your own electricity day and night has never been more attractive or feasible. The influx of efficient and safe batteries has slowly reduced the upfront cost, and many newly built homes come battery-ready – in fact, some builders will throw in solar and a battery.
With the advent of electric vehicles, a spanner was thrown in the works of energy independence. The average home solar and battery system simply would not have the capacity to power the home AND charge the EV. Reliance on the grid was back on the cards. Enter bidirectional charging.
Bidirectional EV charging: The next phase in home energy independence
Plugging your car into your home is seemingly something straight out of The Jetsons. Unfathomable and certainly not something you’d expect to arrive at our doorstep before the suitcase car (still waiting with bated breath). Imagine being able to charge your vehicle from the convenience of your home – and then imagine being able to power your home from that very same vehicle. Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), Vehicle-to-Home (V2H), and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) are all options either readily available or poised to become so in Australia. Let’s explore what these mean for Aussies.
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)
V2G technology allows EVs to draw power from the grid to charge the battery and send stored energy back to the grid. V2G enables a two-way flow of electricity between the EV and the power grid. This is currently only available in South Australia and selected instances in a few other states. Bidirectional charging legislation has been drafted and is expected to be legislated in 2025, expanding its use across Australia.
Vehicle-to-Home (V2H)
V2H technology allows EVs to supply power directly to a home. This means your EV can act as a large battery, providing electricity to your house during power outages or peak energy consumption periods. As with V2G technology, this is currently restricted and awaiting bidirectional legislation.
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)
V2L technology allows EVs to power external devices, essentially turning your car into a portable power source. This functionality is already available across a suite of EVs and can be used to power a plethora of devices and appliances when needed.
Turning your humble daily drive into a power station will allow your home to achieve energy independence. V2H technology with solar and home battery storage will transform your home into a sustainable hub.
The Australian home of the future
One could hardly imagine a time when a TV was not a standard feature of a home. Solar is fast approaching this title, with over 30% of Australian dwellings installed with a solar system. Battery storage installations have a long way to go, with just 2.5% of homes installed with one. However, this is projected to change dramatically as more solar systems are installed with a battery. Battery retrofits are also on the rise. Once bidirectional charging is federally legislated, the advent of V2H and V2G will boom. Australia is home to more than 200,000 EVs, with many already equipped to deliver bidirectional charging.
Australia’s future is certainly shaping up to make solar, battery storage, and bidirectional charging a standard feature of the home. Aussies love new technology, and we love to save. As the fastest adopters of solar in the world, it is only a matter of time before our homes reflect our insatiable need to stick it to the man when it comes to big fossil fuels.
Do you have plans to add solar to your home in 2025? Perhaps you have reaped the benefits of solar for years and wish to add battery storage and/or an EV charger? Wherever you are in your journey towards energy independence, Energy Matters is ready to help. Australian-owned and operated, Energy Matters has been assisting Aussies in the shift to renewables since 2005. Find out more and start saving with solar, batteries and more. Energy Matters is committed to a net zero future and is actively looking to promote leading global technology brands into the Australian industry via our website as well as featuring them on national TV shows.
About the author
Nicole is the Media and Communications Manager for Energy Matters with experience working with the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and a passion for renewables and sustainability. Energy Matters aims to provide Australians with a real-world insight into practical ways to save money whilst helping the environment.
