Earlier this year, we launched a series of events focused on Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Implementation and Procurement, as part of our Joint Procurement Programme, specifically designed for those responsible for public charging infrastructure (destination charging) in cities and regions — from local authorities to grid operators. A first webinar was organised on October 3rd 2024, a second is scheduled for November 18, 2024, from 14:00 to 15:30. We are inviting cities, regions, and local grid operators to share their experiences with procurement and projects related to smart and bidirectional EV infrastructure. Register here.
Insights from the 1st Bidirectional Cities Webinar
The webinar opened with a short introduction to SCALE by coordinator Baerte de Brey (Elaad) before delving into the story of Utrecht as the first bidirectional city (presented by Gertjan Geurts, Bart van der Ree and Matthijs Kok).
Utrecht’s V2G Journey
The municipality of Utrecht’s V2G beginnings started small with an initial pilot neighbourhood, it was seen as a ‘bonus’ in a public tender for charging stations for V2G-ready charging points. In its subsequent tenders for public and semi-public charging stations, V2G specifications became a requirement, demonstrating a gradual scaling up enabled in close collaboration with ElaadNL, the smart charging research center from the collective Dutch grid operators.
Utrecht is building a bidirectional network (V2G) with presently over 700 V2G charging points in the city, growing exponentially in the upcoming years. While the city is building a V2G network, smart charging (V1G) is already implemented on a large scale and expected to be rolled out to most of the 4000+ public charging points in 2025. The approach is in line with the Dutch national Smart charging for all 2022-2025 action plan.
Two findings shared by Utrecht are: 1) that paused charging during moments of grid congestion can significantly increase the effectiveness of smart charging, and 2) that V2G offers significant advantages on top of smart charging regarding the imminent electricity grid congestion management. The latter is a severe issue in Utrecht with its high penetrations of rooftop solar panels (33%), growing deployment of EV charging infrastructure and rapidly rising numbers of heat pumps. However, this is not only an issue in Utrecht. It risks becoming one in many other European cities and regions.
Making connections with the STF Procurement Handbook
After the insights and experience from Utrecht, Edwin Bestebreurtje from FIER provided an overview of the Sustainable Transport Forum’s Procurement Handbook with Recommendations for public authorities on electric charging and recharging infrastructure for passenger cars and vans. The handbook was presented because the work developed under SCALE’s Joint Procurement Programme could support the definition of the specific requirements related to V2G in the STF’s handbook. This could take the shape, for example, of an annex with or future revisions to the handbook on the current status of V2G. The idea is to include specific examples/use cases from cities already involved in V2G activities, such as the experience of Utrecht and ElaadNL in tendering for future-proof, V2G ready charging infrastructure.
Closing Words
In the final presentation of the webinar, Baerte de Brey (ElaadNL) contextualised the grid congestion in supply and demand, giving an overview of requirements for generators, or harmonisation of standards when connecting to the grid, providing recommendations on hard- and software for operators. At the end of 2023, ACER submitted to the European Commission proposed amendments to the network code on requirements for grid connection of generators which establishes common standards that generators must respect to connect to the grid.
Key points of discussions with the participants
In an active discussion among panelists and participants, the following questions and action points were discussed:
- Existence of charger manufacturers that can supply AC V2G chargers today
- How SCALE has engaged with vehicle manufacturers to deploy ISO15118-20 on their vehicles, and to enable them to function as part of a fully open V2G ecosystem
- The legislative needs for cities and regions to tender V2G charging
- How would a general roadmap for V2G adoption look like
- What are the advantages of AC and DC V2G charging and will they continue to co-exist in the market?
- Harmonization of technologies, policies and protocols and the need to use/require open standards so that the system becomes interoperable, and lock-ins are avoided.
- The new IEA Task 53 which could be approached for collaboration
- Interoperability between EV chargers and IS15118-20 cars now emerging on the market. Several partners in SCALE are testing that interoperability.
- The steps being made by SCALE to streamline cooperation between local authorities and DSOs for the integrated planning/deployment of charging infrastructure and the power system.
Resources
The bidirectional city of Utrecht: Our story: Why, How, What, the Results and the Future
- Gertjan Geurts, Project leader V2G/V2X/Smart Charging, City of Utrecht
- Bart van der Ree, Energy transition – consultant and project leader, City of Utrecht
- Matthijs Kok, Developer E-mobility and New Energy, City of Utrecht
Joint procurement program and the Sustainable Transport Forum Handbook
Edwin Bestebreurtje, Partner, FIER
European ecosystem for V2G
Baerte de Brey, Chief International Officer, ElaadNL
Recording of the webinar