Ev.energy, a global software provider of managed EV charging, has received Innovate UK funding to scale the UK’s first commercially operating Virtual Power Plant (VPP) using only EVs.
This funding comes after Ev.energy became the first software platform to successfully demonstrate commercially shifting energy consumption from the power grid using only EVs. The company has been awarded an additional £295,000 in funding from Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation’s Prospering from the Energy Revolution programme. This brings its funding from Innovate UK to £754,000.
The latest investment will help Ev.energy scale its VPP, which is designed to stabilise the UK power grid and UK energy systems as the country works to switch to EVs and moves away from fossil fuel vehicles.
In December 2021, Ev.energy’s partner UK Power Networks, the electricity distribution network for London, the South East, and East of England, issued its first commercial dispatch instructions for Ev.energy to reduce electricity demand.
Ev.energy’s VPP automatically responded to these signals by pausing EV charging in areas of Norfolk and Essex where the grid was congested. Between 5pm and 6:30pm, power consumption from EV charging was reduced by 90% compared to the unmanaged baseline, alleviating strain on the grid.
“While these localised Virtual Power Plants are currently small in scale, they demonstrate the significant potential that can be unlocked from smart charging as the number of electric vehicles increases,” said Sotiris Georgiopoulos, head of smart grid development at UK Power Networks.
“By using apps like Ev.energy, smart charging can make electric vehicles part of the solution for a clean, reliable and affordable electricity grid that benefits everyone.”
In return for helping to balance the grid, EV drivers using Ev.energy’s smart-charging algorithm, earn reward points worth up to £60 per year in retail vouchers or can choose to offset their carbon emissions from charging.
“This is a significant milestone for domestic flexibility that builds on the ‘Shift’ innovation project and winning our first commercial tender with UKPN back in 2020,” said William Goldsmith, Ev.energy’s head of grid services.
“UKPN has always been great to work with, and we hope to share our technology with the support of Innovate UK’s funding to support other utilities, charger manufacturers, and the wider industry in the UK and around the world.”
