UK Government Funds Project to Integrate EVs and Solar into Grid Asset Strategy
A UK consortium has secured £1.34m in government funding to demonstrate how electric vehicle batteries, combined with solar car parks, can act as crucial grid assets to balance supply and demand.
A consortium of UK companies has been awarded £1.34 million in government funding to explore the potential of electric vehicle (EV) batteries in stabilising the national electricity grid. The project, named 'V2X FastHub', aims to demonstrate how energy stored in EVs can be used to manage fluctuations in supply and demand, particularly important as the grid increasingly relies on intermittent renewable sources. The funding comes from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, delivered by Innovate UK, as reported by evcandi.com.
Advancing Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Technology
Led by 3ti, a specialist in solar car parks (SCPs), the V2X FastHub project will integrate bi-directional DC charging and advanced power management systems into 3ti's Papilio3 unit. This innovative pop-up solar car park and EV charging hub is designed for rapid deployment and features a solar canopy and an integral energy storage battery. The project seeks to position EV batteries as dynamic grid assets, providing a pathway to address the challenge of intermittent renewable energy supply.
The consortium brings together 3ti with Turbo Power Systems (TPS), which will provide DC microgrid systems and manage bi-directional charging via CCS and CHAdeMO connectors. Smart energy company GridBeyond will oversee energy management and aggregation services, while EV and decarbonisation experts Cenex will host the vehicle trial, including procurement, data analysis, and reporting. The 17-month collaboration includes a six-month real-world demonstration phase.
The specially adapted Papilio3 unit will function as a smart grid 'in-a-box', capable of hosting up to 12 EVs. It incorporates a new DC microgrid system with three times faster bi-directional DC EV charge points, a 280 kWh integrated battery storage system, and a 20 kWp solar roof array. Mark Potter, CTO at 3ti, highlighted the potential for EVs to act as a significant, distributed energy resource, balancing real-time supply and demand. He stated that the project aims to prove that bi-directional EV charging can function effectively in real-world scenarios, allowing connected EVs to form virtual power and energy storage facilities that generate income and reduce costs for users.
Technical Innovations and Grid Impact
The project claims to be the first in the world to trial a 12-charge point DC smart microgrid for CCS V2X based on the ISO15118-20 standard. Each charge point will also support CHAdeMO for broader vehicle compatibility. This setup promises faster, bi-directional EV charging at speeds up to ±30 kW, offering higher power and round-trip energy efficiency compared to AC solutions. Potter emphasised that the ability to recharge at 30 kW is critical for market success, enabling meaningful energy export for V2X without compromising net charge.
DC microgrid V2X is expected to offer up to 95% round-trip efficiency, a significant improvement over the typical 60-70% seen in AC domains. This enhanced efficiency, coupled with lower operational and capital expenditures, is key to unlocking the value of V2X for asset owners. The project's success is anticipated to contribute to the UK's Net Zero targets and energy security goals by supporting a more sustainable and reliable energy transition through smart microgrids.
What this means for asset owners and insurers
- Enhanced Asset Utilisation: Asset owners deploying EV charging infrastructure, especially integrated with solar and storage, can unlock new revenue streams by participating in grid balancing services through V2X, transforming EVs from mere consumers to active grid assets.
- Increased Intermittency Management: For insurers, the successful implementation of V2X and smart microgrids reduces grid instability risks associated with intermittent renewable generation, potentially decreasing claims related to power quality issues or grid stress impacting renewable energy assets.
- Technological Risks & Liability: The deployment of advanced bi-directional DC charging and integrated battery systems introduces new technological risks, such as potential for thermal events in high-power charging or V2X operations, requiring insurers to assess product liability and operational risk for innovative hardware.
- Business Interruption Opportunities: The ability of V2X to provide backup power or stabilise local grids could mitigate business interruption risks for facilities reliant on EV charging infrastructure, offering resilience against grid outages and creating new insurable value for energy services.
Source: evcandi.com