Homepage / Resources /

Energising EV Charge Points with Renewables

| News

Energising EV Charge Points with Renewables

How much do you know about the energy you charge your EV with? Mer experts have the answers to your questions.

Wall mounted electric car charger

Understanding how electric vehicle (EV) charge points are supplied is an important part of the conversation around electric mobility and, for fleet operators and sustainability officers, it can have a significant impact on their strategy and reporting.

This blog explores where the energy we supply to our EV chargers comes from, whether our electricity system is prepared for the demand that EV charging will place on it in the future, and more.

 

Where does the energy we supply to our chargers come from, and how does the energy get to our sites/chargers?

As with all electricity – even in our houses when we switch a kettle on – we get the same mix of electricity generation. That comes from a variety of sources, which go through the transmission system, which then get diluted into the distribution system, which then come out to our chargers at your premises.

The electricity which is distributed through our charge points is 100% renewable and REGO-backed. We buy our energy contracts through Bryt Energy, and the energy that comes from Bryt is supplied by Statkraft. All the energy is guaranteed as renewable – the amount of energy that we consume is offset against the renewable energy that Statkraft has generated for the UK; this is backed up by REGOs (renewable energy guarantees of origin) certificates. We can guarantee that the proportion of energy that we are using in the UK fuel mix is 100% renewable.

What about sites where the energy connection is inadequate – how do we get the energy to our chargers?

EV charge points are very power-hungry, and we do a feasibility study at every site, whether for a large depot, a public sector organisation, or our wider network. The country is split into six Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), each of which manages certain areas. These DNOs have heat maps, which we can refer to for a rough indication of whether there is a connection available for our chargers. Following this, we must do an official Point of Connection application to the DNO for that specific area, who will come back and tell us if there is enough power available. Challenges arise if the POC is too far away from your site, because extending or upgrading the connection can add significant cost.

We do everything we can and look at all the different points of connection in your area; it might not be the one on the road outside, for example, but a little bit further away. We will then do all the calculations to get the power there to ensure the connection is enough to meet the needs of your fleet. If we are unable to extend a DV connection to your site, our EV charging design consultants will look at your existing connection to see if we can offer AC charging instead and alter your EV fleet charging strategy accordingly.

Looking ahead, can our electricity system cope with the rising demand EV charging is placing on it?

There are a lot of steps being taken to ensure it can. On a daily basis, National Grid is monitoring where people are applying for connections, how much capacity they are taking up, and how much energy is going through those wires at any one time. They are planning infrastructure upgrades in accordance with this.

As public sector and private organisations adopt electric fleet vehicles, there will be a growth in demand for onsite and depot EV charging, which could have a significant impact on the grid. However, our design consultants can work with you to ensure that your project meets your existing and future needs.

How do we predict EV chargers will be energised in the future? What innovations or technologies are we hoping or expecting to see?

We will expect to see more large-scale battery storage come into the market. For example, a battery can be used as a buffer in a case where we would like to put a big EV charging hub on a site, but we cannot get the point of connection at the right size yet. Batteries can also help with shifting load and offering a more advantageous electricity price. For fleet operators, they can also allow you to create the perfect fleet charging strategy and ensure your vehicles are always ready to go.

We will see EV chargers playing a much bigger part in managing the UKs energy as we make the switch to EVs.

Find out more about innovative technologies with EV charging here.

Recent News

Read More