Using e-vehicles to store electricity for the grid
11.11.2024Vienna
The increasing importance of electric vehicles is posing new challenges for society, particularly in the area of charging infrastructure. One promising solution is the controlled charging of electric cars, which, in combination with the bidirectional charging function, enables the sustainable use of electric vehicles as flexible electricity storage units.
At a time when sustainable energy and intelligent solutions for our electricity grids are becoming increasingly important, the innovative technology of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and bidirectional charging opens up new perspectives for the use of electric vehicles as flexible electricity storage systems. If electric vehicles are used correctly as flexible storage systems in the future, they can create additional benefits for our energy system that are beneficial to the grid and the system.
Vehicle-to-Grid enables electricity from the drive batteries of electric cars to be fed back into the public power grid. In contrast to conventional electric vehicles, bidirectionally chargeable vehicles are able not only to draw electrical energy from the grid, but also to feed it into the grid or into the home via special charging stations at times of high grid load. This bidirectional charging promotes intelligent sector coupling and even has the potential to supply households during a power outage. In the future, therefore, V2G technology could make a decisive contribution to the decarbonisation of the transport sector, take on load control tasks and drive forward the integration of renewable energies. It also offers owners of electric cars the opportunity to provide grid services and thus become part of the energy system themselves.
“The challenges in the field of electromobility are diverse. In addition to technical aspects, legal and social framework conditions also have to be taken into consideration,” explains project manager Kurt Leonhartsberger. “With this project, we want to create a contact point for companies and private users and develop solutions that enable the smooth integration of V2G technology.”
The main objectives of the project include the identification of customer needs and the development of potential business models for bidirectional charging. Another central element will be the establishment of an innovation network in the Austrian V2G sector, in which 14 Austrian partners (including: VERBUND, AIT, APG, Sonnenplatz Großschönau, impeect GmbH, EMC, Reisenbauer Solutions, Im-Plan-Tat, Family of Power, Sticon, Stadtwerke Amstetten) are actively involved.
The success factors of the project include the development of validated use cases and business models as well as their implementation in selected test environments. In addition, a comprehensive report on the technical, social and legal basis for V2G in Austria will be prepared. A knowledge, communication and participation platform will also act as a central hub for all stakeholders.
“VERBUND’s role in this project includes network development, stakeholder acquisition, social requirement engineering and the development and validation of user-oriented use cases. We are delighted to be part of this forward-looking project and are convinced that, together with our partners, we can take a significant step towards sustainable and innovative mobility,” says VERBUND project manager Harald Wechselberger.
The integration of V2G technology and the use of electric vehicles as flexible electricity storage systems will not only accelerate the energy transition, but also secure a sustainable and resilient energy future for generations to come – an important step towards a decarbonised and intelligently networked energy future.
Vehicle-to-Grid enables electricity from the drive batteries of electric cars to be fed back into the public power grid. In contrast to conventional electric vehicles, bidirectionally chargeable vehicles are able not only to draw electrical energy from the grid, but also to feed it into the grid or into the home via special charging stations at times of high grid load. This bidirectional charging promotes intelligent sector coupling and even has the potential to supply households during a power outage. In the future, therefore, V2G technology could make a decisive contribution to the decarbonisation of the transport sector, take on load control tasks and drive forward the integration of renewable energies. It also offers owners of electric cars the opportunity to provide grid services and thus become part of the energy system themselves.
Innovation project advances bidirectional charging in Austria.
This initial situation creates the framework for a new project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), which aims to establish an interdisciplinary network and identify the basic requirements and needs of future (private) users of electric vehicles. The development, implementation and validation of methods in the laboratory and in real test environments will make an important contribution to the Vehicle-to-Grid topic of creating additional benefits for our energy system that are beneficial to the grid and the system.“The challenges in the field of electromobility are diverse. In addition to technical aspects, legal and social framework conditions also have to be taken into consideration,” explains project manager Kurt Leonhartsberger. “With this project, we want to create a contact point for companies and private users and develop solutions that enable the smooth integration of V2G technology.”
The main objectives of the project include the identification of customer needs and the development of potential business models for bidirectional charging. Another central element will be the establishment of an innovation network in the Austrian V2G sector, in which 14 Austrian partners (including: VERBUND, AIT, APG, Sonnenplatz Großschönau, impeect GmbH, EMC, Reisenbauer Solutions, Im-Plan-Tat, Family of Power, Sticon, Stadtwerke Amstetten) are actively involved.
The success factors of the project include the development of validated use cases and business models as well as their implementation in selected test environments. In addition, a comprehensive report on the technical, social and legal basis for V2G in Austria will be prepared. A knowledge, communication and participation platform will also act as a central hub for all stakeholders.
“VERBUND’s role in this project includes network development, stakeholder acquisition, social requirement engineering and the development and validation of user-oriented use cases. We are delighted to be part of this forward-looking project and are convinced that, together with our partners, we can take a significant step towards sustainable and innovative mobility,” says VERBUND project manager Harald Wechselberger.
The integration of V2G technology and the use of electric vehicles as flexible electricity storage systems will not only accelerate the energy transition, but also secure a sustainable and resilient energy future for generations to come – an important step towards a decarbonised and intelligently networked energy future.
