DRIVING THE FUTURE
FUTURE-PROOFING EV INFRASTRUCTURE Andrew Toher, Head of Customer Insights Enel X UK
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onceptually, charging an electric vehicle is a simple task. In reality, providing the infrastructure to support e-mobility is giving energy managers a lot to think about. However, with the right approach, businesses can optimise their investment in charging infrastructure so that it works for them and their end users.
THE BUSINESS AND LEGISLATIVE DRIVERS Transport accounts for around a quarter of global emissions. Consequently, many businesses are looking to lead on climate change action by decarbonising their vehicle fleets and boosting EV use by providing workplace charging. The UK has passed legislation to ban sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035 at the latest, and is simultaneously looking to accelerate the EV market by providing attractive tax-breaks to business users. Meanwhile, some businesses are looking to lead on zero-emission transport as a tangible demonstration of their commitment to combat climate change. For delivery firms and logistics companies where transport is the core of the business, those who can offer a net-zero service first will attract new customers. This potent combination of government legislation, financial incentives and user demand is compelling businesses to act on EV charging. For businesses looking to invest in onpremise EV charging, it’s important that they consider the big-picture view of their energy needs first, and consider both operational and procurement issues before rushing into projects. Some of the key issues include: site capacity and load; choosing the right charger; taking a modular approach to design; identifying grid balancing opportunities and signing up to the right supply contract.
SITE CAPACITY AND LOAD For many sites, considering the impact of adding EV charging stations
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on site power load is fundamental to the feasibility and cost of the project. While a basic parking facility might have a power load of just 5-10kW for features like lighting and barrier entry, adding a single rapid charging unit will increase the peak power load for that facility by 5-10x. Providing workplace charging for EV fleets introduces a key challenge – how to manage overall power loads at facilities. Large sites with half-hourly billing will have agreed a maximum import capacity (MIC) with their supplier. Capacity needs to be in line with demand, and exceeding the MIC incurs financial penalties. There may also be a risk of exceeding total supply capacity by using EV charging stations while operating normal electrical loads in buildings. The Distribution Network Operator
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MAY 2020
will be involved in looking at worst-case power load scenarios to assess whether network upgrades are required, which can take many weeks and require significant investment if the business has to pay to reinforce the network. The extent to which the customer has to pay for these connection costs is under review as part of the Access and Forward Looking Charges Review, and could be more onerous in future. By monitoring the building’s energy consumption, the charging process can be remotely managed in real-time while making the most of the existing available power. This approach can avoid the need for expensive network reinforcement, enabling optimal use of charging infrastructure while minimising costs through dynamic load balancing.
