£54m project to monitor the impact of EVs on electricity networks
Wed 24 April 2013
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A 'smart grid' project has teamed up with leading network providers for recharging facilities for EVs to monitor the impact the growth in EVs will have on electricity networks and support the UK's transition to a low carbon economy. Customer-Led Network Revolution (CLNR) project and Charge Your Car, will work together to monitor the typical energy consumption of EV drivers and gather data about when and where owners charge their vehicles.
Part funded by the Low Carbon Networks Fund, the CLNR project has already established trials with 12,000 domestic and commercial customers, many of whom have low carbon technologies, to assess current and future electricity consumption and generation profiles.
Led by Northern Powergrid and its partners British Gas, EA Technology and Durham University, the CLNR project will continue to study electricity consumption patterns, customer flexibility and trial pioneering new smart grid technology across electricity networks in the North East and Yorkshire regions throughout 2013.
(Reported by Renewable Energy Focus) Dr Liz Sidebotham, Communications Manager for the CLNR project, said: "Through the CLNR project, we're conducting a number of innovative technological and customer trials to help create a 'smarter powergrid' that will be able to cope with the mass uptake of EVs and other electricity dependent low carbon technologies.
"Recently announced subsidies for EV charging points in homes and businesses will certainly encourage more electric transport, but it’s important to remember that the average EV uses 8kW of electricity when it is recharging.
"To put that into perspective, if in the future we have ten million EV owners who all put their vehicles on charge at the same time, it would equate to 80GW of power, which is the entire generating capacity we have available in Britain today.
"Add this to the overall demand for electricity in the UK at the moment, which is typically 40GW or 60GW at peak, and we'd have to double the existing generating capacity just to cope.
"It's clear that EVs and other low carbon technologies pose emerging energy challenges for the industry, but that's why through this project we're committed to finding the most cost-effective methods to meet the demands of a low carbon future, while making sure consumers can keep their energy prices and their carbon footprint as low as possible.”
Dr Colin Herron, director of Charge Your Car North Ltd, said: "We're working towards the widespread roll-out of EV charging infrastructure and a driver-friendly recharging network, but we fully understand that the nationwide adoption of EVs will only be possible if these vehicles can be accommodated on the electricity network.
"Working with the CLNR project, we're learning more about the typical energy consumption profiles of EV drivers and the data gathered will allow the project to begin laying the foundations of a smarter grid that can support the energy needs of millions of EV users.
The findings from all CLNR trials are being shared with other electricity distribution network operators across the UK and on the project's website to help the energy industry prepare for the low carbon future.
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