PRESS RELEASE

UK's First Smart Electric Vehicle Charging Trial Chooses Active Network Management

UK Power Networks trial explores potential to use EV charging points as a load management resource via a new smart control system

GLASGOW, 26 February 2014 - Smarter Grid Solutions is working with London's electricity distributor, UK Power Networks, on a trial to monitor and manage the load from selected electric vehicle (EV) charge points. The trial of the new smart EV control system is designed to alleviate grid congestion by briefly interrupting the flow of charge to EVs at peak times. The signal to interrupt charging is provided by Smarter Grid Solutions' patented Active Network Management software. The EV control system is designed to have no noticeable impact on customers using the charge points.

The pilot is part of the Low Carbon London project and includes project partners POD Point, who are providing the EV charging infrastructure, and Imperial College London, who are analysing data and validating the trial. Three sites have been selected for the trial, including five public charge points in the City of London, ten in Beckton and 50 of the most popular points in London. The trial is the first time Active Network Management has been used to control EV charging.

The trial uses Smarter Grid Solutions' Active Network Management software to gather real-time data from the bottlenecks in the electricity grid to calculate and deliver constraint actions required to relieve grid congestion. The solution is integrated with UK Power Networks' operational data store and existing SCADA system.

Commenting on the trial, Alan Gooding, Smarter Grid Solutions' Commercial Director and Co-Founder, said: "Active Network Management is already proven as a highly effective way of connecting larger volumes of distributed energy, such as solar, wind and CHP, to congested electricity networks. This new trial shows how the technique can also help electricity network operators to accommodate other features of a low carbon economy, such as electric vehicles. Our technology provides UK Power Networks with an alternative to expensive and disruptive grid upgrades and allows for rapid integration of new Distributed Energy Resources, such as electric vehicles."

The technology core of the Active Network Management solution is Smarter Grid Solutions' autonomous control platform, supplemented by its specialist power application software. The key components are:
 

• sgs core: the deterministic platform component that hosts the Active Network Management application.

• sgs comms hub: the platform component that handles and processes all data for sgs core, interfacing with external systems and devices.

• sgs connect: the decentralised platform component that interfaces with and controls devices or device aggregator (in this case, POD Point).

• sgs power flow: the Active Network Management software application installed on sgs core that calculates the necessary control actions.

The system architecture is shown in Figure 1 below. A high resolution TIFF image is available at: ANM system architecture diagram - High Res 


Figure 1. Active Network Management system architecture for Low Carbon London EV charging trial


The new software solution provides live data showing electricity demand from a cluster of charge points and how much demand could be reduced, if curtailed. Interruptions to the EV charging are designed to have no noticeable effect on those using the charge points. In addition, by monitoring the state and rate of charge, the system will not interrupt charging to cars that need it most. Data collected during the trials will be extrapolated by Imperial College London to model the impact on Londons electricity cables and substations in various scenarios.

The trial is already underway and will report results by the end of 2014.



ENDS.


Media information

Contact
David Millar, Marketing and Communications Manager
Tel +44 (0)141 568 4319 (direct) +44 (0)141 568 4310 (switchboard)
media@smartergridsolutions.com

Photography
A high resolution version of the image below showing the "in street" POD Point EV charging infrastructure is available at: POD Point EV Charging Infrastructure
 

POD Point EV charging infrastructure (Credit: POD Point). 


Further images are available from POD Point:  www.pod-point.com/news/press-images/


Notes to editors

About Smarter Grid Solutions
Smarter Grid Solutions creates and delivers technologies that help electricity distribution companies and utilities to integrate Distributed Energy Resources (DER). The company specialises in Active Network Management, which uses software, automation and control to monitor the electricity grid in real time. This allows power companies to improve the operation of their electricity grid and manage their connected customers, without compromising safety and security. Smarter Grid Solutions is Europe's leading vendor of DER integration solutions. It services customers worldwide and is headquartered in Glasgow, with offices in London and New York. Investors include Scottish Equity Partners, the Scottish Investment Bank and the University of Strathclyde. www.smartergridsolutions.com

About UK Power Networks
UK Power Networks distributes more than a quarter of the UK's electricity through its networks of substations, underground cables and overhead lines making sure the lights stay on across London, the South East and the East of England. The company was named Utility of the Year 2012 in the prestigious Utility Industry Achievement Awards. Its 5,200 employees are dedicated to delivering a safe, secure electricity supply to 8.1million homes and businesses regardless of who they pay their energy bills to. The industry regulator Ofgem sets an allowed revenue to distribution companies so that they can maintain safe and reliable electricity supplies. UK Power Networks invests more than £500million in its electricity networks every year and is also undertaking trials to ensure that electricity networks support the transition to a low carbon future. It also maintains and upgrades power equipment, and moves and connects new electricity cables. If customers are unfortunate enough to be affected by a power cut or have another issue with the electricity supply to their property, they should contact UK Power Networks. www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk

To find out more about UK Power Networks' innovation projects visit http://innovation.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/innovation/en/

About Low Carbon London
Low Carbon London, led by UK Power Networks, is a £28.3million pioneering learning programme funded by customers through Ofgem's Low Carbon Networks Fund and the electricity network operator. Its aim is to use London as a test bed to develop a smarter electricity network that can manage the demands of a low carbon economy and deliver reliable, sustainable low carbon electricity to businesses, residents and communities. The programme will explore how to combine new technology and commercial innovation - such as localised generation, electric vehicles, heat pumps, smart meters, time of use tariffs and responsive demand services - to support a low carbon energy economy. UK Power Networks' partners on the Low Carbon London programme are Siemens, CGI, EDF Energy, Greater London Authority, Transport for London, National Grid, Institute for Sustainability, Flexitricity, EnerNOC, Smarter Grid Solutions and Imperial College London. More information on Ofgem's Low Carbon Networks Fund is available at: http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Networks/ElecDist/lcnf/Pages/lcnf.aspx