ARENA funds Orkestra $2.77 million to accelerate commercial EV charger deployment

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Together with partners AGL, EnergyAustralia, CBRE, RACV, and RAA, the $5.5 million co-funded software project aims to bring forward electric vehicle (EV) charger deployment by three years, accelerating investment and reducing dependence on government subsidies.

‍The funding is part of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) Driving the Nation Program and will play a vital role in ensuring that commercial EV charging can scale to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles.

‍ARENA CEO Darren Miller says Orkestra are really driving innovation, and technology like this will play a valuable role in the clean energy transition. By investing in and supporting emerging Australian companies and ideas, ARENA is able to drive both economic growth and our efforts to meet critical climate goals.”

‍ “Orkestra’s feasibility modelling software will provide the tools needed by businesses to better understand the financial performance of EV chargers, ultimately accelerating their deployment and supporting our goals of decarbonising transport.”

‍James Allston, Orkestra co-CEO and co-founder says, “Our vision is to build trust in EV charging as a bankable investment by providing tools that give operators and investors an accurate understanding of the financial performance of existing and new commercial EV charger assets.”

‍”This will not only speed up deployment but also improve the profitability of assets, making EV charging a more attractive opportunity for businesses across Australia – similar to what we’ve seen in the C&I solar and battery segment over the last few years.”

The VC-backed clean tech company currently provides user-friendly feasibility analysis software for the commercial solar and battery market, making it faster and easier to model and present investment opportunities for new energy projects.

‍The new software developed will be purpose-built for EV charger projects, enabling businesses to analyse the feasibility of commercial EV charging stations, track ongoing financial performance and provide a platform for continual optimisation.

‍Orkestra’s software solutions will support various stakeholders, including fleet operators, public charging networks, and destination charging sites such as hotels and workplaces. By enabling faster and more accurate feasibility studies and financial modelling, the project will significantly contribute to achieving Australia’s electric vehicle adoption goals.

‍Orkestra is currently looking for potential users for their beta project and has one project partner opportunity available to an owner or operator of EV charger assets.