Vehicle-to-grid technology in South Africa’s energy transition

Abstract

The energy sector in South Africa has been undergoing a transition to a low carbon economy and a shift in its energy structure. This transition emphasises the need for renewable energy sources and the advancement of new energy vehicles to meet the country's climate change mitigation commitments. Conversely, the growing use of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs) raises concerns about energy security and the need for increased power generating capacity. Intending to find a solution to the abovementioned concerns, the subject of this study was the role that vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology could play in the energy transition. The theories underpinning this research were the diffusion of innovation and the multi-level perspective. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Thirteen (13) experts purposively selected from the automotive industry, national energy department, regulator and utility, research institution, independent power producers, charging infrastructure provider, and an EV owner participated in this research. According to the study, V2G technology could contribute to South Africa's energy transition in the long run. For the technology to drive a meaningful change, subsidies, local manufacturing of electric vehicles, and consumer-awareness campaigns will be required to encourage investments in EVs and change public perceptions. The study also emphasized the need for public charging infrastructure, affordable EV models, and supportive government policies. Several challenges were identified that may hinder the adoption of this technology. These challenges included the need for an increase in generation capacity to handle EV charging, smart meters for billing purposes, and the inability of the current electricity grid to support V2G. Although the potential of V2G technology is enormous, it requires substantial collaboration between the government and private sector, investment in charging infrastructure, and modernisation of the electricity grid.