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FlexPower Amsterdam (Flexible Smart Charging)
Published on 09 August 2018
Netherlands
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Smart systems can provide a more cost-effective method than traditional grid reinforcement. Flexpower is testing how smart charging helps overcome this.
Main goal is to prove the technical feasibility of implementing large-scale smart charging in the public charge domain. And to measure the real-world impact of smart charging on the grid, how this is perceived by the users and the importance of overlap in time and space with local sustainable energy production.
Flexpower developed an energy steering mechanism, which allows an increase or decrease in energy provided by the charging stations. This depends on the total energy demand at the availability of locally generated renewable energy.
First phase of Flexpower consisted of 200 charging points distributed over the city centre, Amsterdam West and South. This phase consisted of reducing the amount of energy provided during morning and late afternoon peaks when the demand is already very high. This is done through a Smart Static Charging Profile.
Second step included an increase in the number of stations (900 charging points) and provided a more dynamic approach, adapting the charging profile to the forecasted demand and availability of local renewables.
The main stakeholders:
- Local grid owner: Liander
- Charge point operator: NUON & Heijmans
- Charge point owner: City of Amsterdam
- Information analysis: Hogeschool van Amsterdam
Main goal is to prove the technical feasibility of implementing large-scale smart charging in the public charge domain. And to measure the real-world impact of smart charging on the grid, how this is perceived by the users and the importance of overlap in time and space with local sustainable energy production.
Flexpower developed an energy steering mechanism, which allows an increase or decrease in energy provided by the charging stations. This depends on the total energy demand at the availability of locally generated renewable energy.
First phase of Flexpower consisted of 200 charging points distributed over the city centre, Amsterdam West and South. This phase consisted of reducing the amount of energy provided during morning and late afternoon peaks when the demand is already very high. This is done through a Smart Static Charging Profile.
Second step included an increase in the number of stations (900 charging points) and provided a more dynamic approach, adapting the charging profile to the forecasted demand and availability of local renewables.
The main stakeholders:
- Local grid owner: Liander
- Charge point operator: NUON & Heijmans
- Charge point owner: City of Amsterdam
- Information analysis: Hogeschool van Amsterdam
Resources needed
1. Time efforts by 4 partners to get objectives and technology aligned, communicate between them & stakeholders and financially soft and hardware costs.
2. To provide more flexible electricity during low peak and solar hours, the grid connection required a costly contractual upgrade.
2. To provide more flexible electricity during low peak and solar hours, the grid connection required a costly contractual upgrade.
Evidence of success
The EV charging contribution to the grid load can be successfully suppressed during a designated time window with minimal user impact.
The outcome of the SEEV4City operational pilot with 900 smart public charging points shows that city-scale smart charging is feasible and beneficial for:
1. Optimising usage of local solar energy
2. Relieving stress on the electricity grid
3. Clean energy for electric mobility
For more information: https://www.seev4-city.eu/projects/amsterdam/
The outcome of the SEEV4City operational pilot with 900 smart public charging points shows that city-scale smart charging is feasible and beneficial for:
1. Optimising usage of local solar energy
2. Relieving stress on the electricity grid
3. Clean energy for electric mobility
For more information: https://www.seev4-city.eu/projects/amsterdam/
Potential for learning or transfer
First lesson is the high value of disposing over good quality and frequent information regarding EV charging throughout the city. This supports the decision making of further rolling out (fast) charging networks, the vulnerable locations, relevance of storage, or other measures at the right scale.
Second lesson learned focussed on the need to have an in-depth study of all energy fluxes at neighbourhood level. The overall energy consumption is different in a residential area, a working or industrial site or the centre. This determines the success of a smart charging profile. EV charging is one, the energy consumption buildings and the available generation influence the pilot results significantly.
Main analysis to consider this practice successful is because the pilot will be:
A) Up-scaled in its territory in Amsterdam and
B) More dynamics are to be integrated.
Second lesson learned focussed on the need to have an in-depth study of all energy fluxes at neighbourhood level. The overall energy consumption is different in a residential area, a working or industrial site or the centre. This determines the success of a smart charging profile. EV charging is one, the energy consumption buildings and the available generation influence the pilot results significantly.
Main analysis to consider this practice successful is because the pilot will be:
A) Up-scaled in its territory in Amsterdam and
B) More dynamics are to be integrated.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Green IT Amsterdam
Netherlands
Noord-Holland
Contact
Project Manager