INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Smartening Up: Why solar and EV chargers go hand-in-hand with new regulations
The introduction of the new Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations is one of the biggest shake ups to building management and construction in many a year. Theodorik Leao, technical sales manager at GoodWe, explains what the new regulation means, and why powering EV chargers through solar may make the most sense as we transition toward ‘smart charging’
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t probably doesn’t need mentioning, but the use of electric vehicles (EVs) has grown rapidly over recent years. However, to clarify just how much this market has grown, and will continue to grow, it makes sense to look at some numbers. Statistics from the Department for Transport
reported that more than a quarter of a million EVs now travel on UK roads and sales of plug-in vehicles have reached all-time highs, with 327,000 registered last year alone – a 77% rise compared to 2020.
The uptake of EVs is a welcome one for the sustainability movement, of course. However, there poses an issue of how all these vehicles can be charged, without putting more strain on the already-stretched grid. The UK’s public charging infrastructure hasn’t expanded fast enough to accommodate the number of EVs on the road in the past year, according to carwow. This is in spite of the number of EVs per charging point increasing by by 7.3 between 2020 and 2021, which is the seventh highest increase in the world.
Legislative impact
The prevalence of charging points is an issue that has been long debated, and one that the government has now started addressing. One way the problem is being tackled is through legislation, and the latest requirement for charging points to have smart functionality. It is one of a raft of changes which has been set out by the recent Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021, and came into force on 30th June 2022.
Quite simply, what this means is that it is no longer enough just to have an EV charger installed at your home. Instead, your charger must have smart functionality. All new EV charging points in all UK domestic and commercial buildings need to have smart chargers to lower pressure on the grid and use renewable sources to power these where possible. On top of this, every new build has to have a charging point included as standard, with some local authorities even requesting that recent developments that were built before the regulations came into force have these chargers retrofitted.
Is smart charging enough?
You may already be asking, what is ‘smart charging’? Does a charger not just charge at a steady rate, as defined by its rated output? The answer here is no – and smart charging means a charger can adjust the charging output based on various parameters and dynamic factors in real-time. What this does is reduce peak electricity loads on the grid, and simultaneously, users can choose to charge the batteries on their vehicles at certain times to ensure cost-effectiveness and safety. For example, GoodWe’s EV charger is a single or three phase AC charger available in 7kW, 11 kW and 22 kW versions capable of delivering 7,000 watts, 11,000 watts and 22,000 watts of power respectively. The unit is fully protected, including overvoltage and undervoltage protection, AC surge and overload protection. However, even with smart charging functionality, it remains to be seen whether this is enough to remedy the situation. As alluded to earlier, the UK’s electricity grid is under a huge amount of strain, with some areas already at capacity and not able to bear any more load. Take for instance West London, where new homes have been banned from development as the electricity grid cannot support any further infrastructure, and the situation may not be resolved for another several years yet. With this in mind, if more and more people convert to EVs, there is every possibility that there will soon not be enough electricity to go around.
The solution is solar
To safeguard against the above situation, it’s clear that there needs to be a movement towards self-sufficient energy sources. Hence why within the new regulations, the government has stated that smart chargers must use renewable sources to power these where possible. Here, solar energy makes the most sense. From a financial perspective – while many may want to make the switch to electric vehicles, they may be concerned that they are facing soaring electricity bills. Solar energy can mitigate these costs, and, given the continuing price rises on energy, the payback period on a complete solar system for a home (panels, inverter and battery) can be six to seven years now. This is
based on a cost of £8,000 - £10,000 for materials and labour, and an annual electricity bill of £1,600, which is what an average 2–3-bedroom home could be facing once the price cap rises in October. From an operations viewpoint, smart EV
charging stations are safer, more sustainable, reliable, and flexible for different user needs. This technology creates an interconnected e-mobility network, facilitating remote monitoring for easy commissioning, operation, and maintenance through the charger’s lifecycle. For multi-tenancy residential buildings, smart EV charging allows accurate and fairer cost allocation, so residents only pay for what they use.
Alongside smart EV charging and shorter payback periods, the development of hybrid inverters has created a way for homeowners to begin reaping the benefits of solar power without the full up-front costs. By having a hybrid installed, homeowners can power their appliances using solar power and then have a battery added at a later date that better suits their power storage and financial requirements. This ‘halfway house’ allows people to make the switch to solar smoothly and spread the cost as they see fit. Once a battery is installed, electricity can be stored for days with fewer hours of sunlight, used overnight, or can keep the home running when a power cut strikes. For installers, hybrids are a game-changer. They can go up to 6kW and, as their popularity expands with the growth of the residential market, so too must installers’ knowledge and ability to work competently with this new generation of inverter.
Aiding a smooth transition
There will undoubtedly be bumps in the road as we accelerate toward an electrified future. However, with the new EV charging points regulations now in place, there is at least a good foundation to build upon, with standards and guidance to work toward. As to how we reduce reliance on the grid and avoid out-of-control electricity prices, solar is proving a most viable solution. We understand the important role manufacturers have to play in this future. From having a complete range of both residential and commercial solar solutions through to dedicated training programmes, we are here to support a smooth transition toward a more sustainable future.
20 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2022 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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