Advances in green power know no bounds, but very few homes have batteries to store the electricity they generate throughout the day. Fortunately, the answer to this shortfall is much closer than we imagine.when the number of Electric car Bloomberg-NEF consulting firm forecasts that their batteries will become the world’s largest energy store when they reach 1.4 billion in 2040.
This article covers the following topics:
What is V2G?
The idle capacity of these batteries is utilized when the vehicle is not in use to optimize the electrical system and allow more renewable energy to be integrated. energy It is the main goal of V2G technology.This is an acronym for vehicle to grid refers to technology that enables two-way communication between the vehicle and the electrical system.
This communication allows the battery to consume energy from or supply energy to the grid depending on various conditions such as demand levels, electricity tariffs and technical conditions of the grid.
So, for example, a fleet of V2G vehicles can help the system: Covering peak power demand Applications such as being an emergency solution in the event of sudden power outages without relying on fossil fuel plants, consuming electricity when energy prices are low, and providing regulating services to the system to maintain the necessary technical balance. there is.
Additionally, some of these services are paid, so V2G vehicles can generate income while their owners are parked in their garages.
when two worlds meet
The proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) is merging two worlds that have coexisted for more than a century: the transportation and power sectors. The global spread of electric vehicles with real batteries in their wheels has led to cooperation, if not convergence, between automakers and power companies, but in this new scenario the two sides will destined to understand.
Consumers, who are becoming active rather than passive, demand clean, available and affordable energy. As such, technologies such as V2G are gaining momentum, transforming EVs not only as means of transportation, but also as devices that serve the electricity system within the framework of smart technology. City.
V2G is more popular than other variations of EVs used as energy storage, such as Vehicle-to-Home (V2H), Vehicle-to-Building (V2B), or V2X in general (where X refers to any device or system). A more complex and sophisticated version. EV can supply power).
Key elements of V2G
The main elements that make up a V2G system are:
- V2G vehicle Equipped with a suitable battery management system. Not all EVs have this feature, but more and more manufacturers are incorporating this technology.
- two way charger It can not only receive power, but also supply it to the grid.
- control software Manages communication between cars and networks.
- Two-way double counter You can record the flow of energy.
Applications and Benefits
In internal combustion locomotives, the energy stored in the fuel tank is only available for the next run. Electric vehicles allow the energy stored in the battery to be used for other applications, with clear benefits for the owner, the electrical system, society and the environment. What’s more destructive?
for the owner
- reduction in electricity bills By shifting consumption to times of lower rates.
- revenues for services paid to the electrical system; Coordination services, frequency management, etc.
- Power backup in case of possible power outage
for power grids
- Flexibility Balance power demand and supply and cover peak demand without building new backup infrastructure.
- Resilience Improve your ability to respond to unexpected network incidents.
for society and the earth
- more renewable energyThe flexibility that V2G brings to the system will allow us to integrate larger amounts of intermittent renewable energy (wind and solar), helping to reduce urban pollution and combat climate change.
- cheaper and more efficient energyUsing EV batteries not only for driving but also for servicing the power system ultimately leads to more efficient use of available resources, which in turn reduces energy costs.
- Other electric vehiclesThe above advantages favor the introduction of electric vehicles and the decarbonization of transport.
V2G Balearic Islands: Future Pilot Test
V2G technology still in early stages of developmentAppropriate equipment and devices exist, but much remains to be done in the areas of technology, regulation, and economics.
In any case, it is certain that in the not too distant future our lives will revolve around a multitude of interconnected electrical devices and devices. smart grid powered With 100% renewable energy.
In this way, initiatives for this future are beginning to be implemented. One pioneering example is Balearic Islands V2G ProjectDeveloped by ACCIONA Energía, it will be the largest ever in Spain to test V2G technology in real conditions.
The project contains the installation 16 V2G charging points Offered to 8 Balearic companies in various sectors 8 Nissan Leaf 24 months. This pilot experience will allow the company to monitor the key variables of his V2G operations and validate complementary services to networks, peak demand smoothing, and other applications related to this technology. You can see the project in this video:
The achievements of the V2G Balearic Islands project, which will run until 2024, will enable the design of more economical and efficient charging solutions for electric vehicles. The energy supplied to charge electric vehicles is 100% renewable. And above all, sustainable.
