- EV batteries can balance the power grid, handle power peaks, reduce energy costs and the requirements for upgrading of the grid
- Part of the EU's smart city project "Positive City Exchange" with the ambition to create positive energy blocks EV owners may use their own power or sell at high spot prices
- Solutions and experience shared free of charge with other municipalities
The initiative in Trondheim involves the municipality, a car sharing service, a utility company, real estate companies, supplier of energy trading solutions, and ABB. It is part of EU's research project "Positive City Exchange" where the aim is to create positive energy blocks.
The new pilot project will demonstrate how batteries in EVs can be an additional resource beyond being an energy carrier for emission-free transport. In two areas which are part of the EU's Positive City Exchange, Brattøra and Sluppen, ABB Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) chargers have been installed. The chargers can charge EVs and or supply electricity back to the grid.
“A big credit to Trondheim municipality for running this ground-breaking pilot project. We look forward to continuing fruitful cooperation and are proud of what we have achieved so far in the plus city project together with the municipality and other partners,” said Per Erik Holsten, country managing director of ABB in Norway. “Utilizing EVs as power banks can be important for tomorrow's energy systems, network development and security of power supply when scaled up.”
The V2G chargers at Brattøra and Sluppen are seamlessly integrated with an energy management system from ABB, also connected to the power grid, building automation systems, and other electricity consumers in the concerned districts, to optimize the flow of energy. A trading solution for purchasing and selling electricity is part of the technical solution.
“It is incredibly rewarding and exciting to be part of groundbreaking work like this. Two-way charging will become important in the future with far more EVs on the market,” said project manager for Positive City Exchange in Trondheim municipality, Bjørn Ove Berthelsen.
He believes the technology is like a Kinderegg, which can contribute to the energy transition and increase sustainability by solving current or future bottlenecks in the power grid with dynamic balancing, while EV owners have the opportunity to use or sell their own electricity when spot prices are high.
“But perhaps the best of all: As part of an EU project, we can share solutions and experience free of charge with other municipalities and public bodies,” said Berthelsen.
By early 2022, Nissan vehicles, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and KIA EV6 will maintain the battery warranty when the battery discharges via two-way chargers. It is expected that several car manufacturers will offer this in the future.
Read more about V2G: ABB-s Vehicle-to-Grid technology
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