A UK-first trial, involving UK Power Networks, Octopus Energy, and ev.energy, is exploring how EV charging can be optimally timed to align with the availability of renewable energy.
The Shift 2.0 trial, which is already in progress and includes over 1,500 EVs, employs dynamic pricing to encourage smart charging practices. This initiative aims to ensure that EV drivers can access inexpensive green energy while avoiding peak electricity demand times, thus easing the load on local electricity networks.
This trial is particularly significant as the UK progresses towards a sustainable energy future where managing fluctuating supply and demand becomes crucial. In one instance from early April, vehicles using Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Octopus Go tariff began charging during the early evening. This period coincides with low wholesale electricity prices due to high wind energy production and is also when local networks experience high usage.
UK Power Networks sends a ‘day-ahead’ time-of-use price signal which Octopus Energy and ev.energy use, along with other data, to plan EV charging. This scheduling considers both the availability of inexpensive power and the capacity of the network. The project is set to conclude in September 2024.
Alex Howard, Head of Flexibility Markets at UK Power Networks, commented on the trial’s approach to integrating dynamic pricing with existing flexibility strategies. He stated, “We’re already harnessing the flexibility of electric vehicles to keep the cost of the network down. But as renewable power grows and vehicle charging is increasingly automated, we need to stay one step ahead. The findings of this collaboration will be important in showing how flexibility can evolve to deliver sustainable value to local and national energy systems.”
Alex Schoch, Head of Flexibility at Octopus Energy, highlighted the broader implications of the trial, saying, “We’re seeing a paradigm shift in global energy – moving from dumb systems to smart ones that dynamically manage energy demand and supply. Charging EVs when green energy is abundant isn’t just good for the planet and boosts renewables, it can also put millions of pounds back into people’s pockets. We’re still at the beginning of this new energy era, and we’re excited to get involved with Shift 2.0 to show how gigantic the benefits of flexibly managing energy demand will be.”
Nick Woolley, CEO of ev.energy, also emphasised the trial’s benefits, noting, “Everyone deserves a clean, affordable, and reliable energy system, and that’s what this trial is all about. Building on GB’s world-leading use of demand flexibility to solve grid challenges, ev.energy is thrilled to be part of the next stage in local flex’s evolution. Our goal is to enable all EV drivers to contribute to smoother power system operation and reward them for their participation. As an equipment and energy company agnostic platform and working with our partners, ev.energy is committed to providing every EV driver the opportunity to benefit from a clean and dynamic energy system.”
