Could EVs solve domestic energy riddle?
Cenex has announced the UK’s first domestic vehicle-to-grid unit which provides power to a home through the owner’s electric vehicle (EV).
Developed through the Ebbs and Flows of Energy Systems (EFES) project, the Loughborough installation will allow partners to gain a greater understanding of the potential of EVs as battery storage and how it can be used on a wider scale.
Funded in part by Innovate UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the £1.8m project is expected to be delivered by December 2017. Cenex will use project data to understand the business case for domestic scale V2G in the UK, and believes this successful installation will act as a catalyst for future innovation.
Once installed, the V2G unit will also represent one of the UK pilots for the SEEV4-City project, a European project part funded by Interreg North Sea Region. This project aims to support the transition to a low carbon economy in European cities, by combining EVs, renewable generation and smart energy management.
Robert Evans, CEO at Cenex, said, ‘Cenex is delighted to be at the forefront of this important new research into the domestic scale use of V2G power systems. Installation of the UK’s first domestic V2G unit marks a significant landmark for the country’s manufacturing and innovation, not to mention our efforts to move toward a low carbon economy.’
Meanwhile, Paul Faithfull, managing director at Potenza Technology, which developed the unit, said, ‘The potential of EV batteries to support the grid could transform how we power our economy, and the EFES system represents a significant first step toward realising that potential.’
