The Australian Government has announced $30 million in funding for 14 innovative projects aimed at making the country’s electricity grid smarter, stronger, and more efficient. The investment, provided through the Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) Grant Program, is designed to support new technologies that improve the performance and capacity of electricity networks while accelerating Australia’s clean energy transition.
The funding forms part of the Albanese Government’s broader Rewiring the Nation program, which is investing more than $20 billion to modernize and expand Australia’s electricity infrastructure. The initiative aims to deliver a more reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy system capable of supporting increasing levels of renewable energy generation.
The 14 selected projects will be implemented across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. Each project focuses on developing or deploying advanced technologies that can strengthen the electricity network while helping households and businesses benefit from renewable energy.
Among the key innovations supported by the program is the use of electric vehicles (EVs) as mobile batteries. These projects will allow EVs to supply electricity back to homes and the grid during periods of high demand, improving grid stability and making better use of stored energy. Other initiatives will encourage EV owners to charge their vehicles during times when electricity is cheaper, and renewable energy is more readily available, helping balance electricity demand across the network.
The funding will also support technologies that assist renewable energy developers in identifying the most suitable locations for connecting new wind and solar projects to the grid. Improved planning tools are expected to reduce connection delays and speed up the deployment of clean energy projects.
Several projects will provide electricity network operators with advanced tools to better manage power flows, increase grid capacity, and maintain reliable operations as renewable energy generation continues to grow. Additional technologies will help stabilize the electricity system during periods of high rooftop solar generation, allowing more renewable electricity to be safely integrated into the network.
The program also includes projects that coordinate large-scale battery systems across the electricity network. These batteries can store excess renewable energy and release it when demand increases, reducing pressure on the grid while improving overall system reliability.
Successful applicants were required to demonstrate that their technologies could be expanded across the wider electricity network to deliver long-term benefits for Australian consumers and businesses.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the Albanese Labor Government is supporting Australian innovation to strengthen the electricity grid during the energy transition. He noted that Australia has abundant solar and wind resources and that the government is helping households maximise the benefits of renewable energy. According to Bowen, the Grid Enhancing Technologies grants will enable greater renewable energy integration, place downward pressure on electricity bills, and build a stronger and more resilient national electricity grid.
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