ENERGY EFFICIENT TRANSPORT


AVOIDING EV INFRASTRUCTURE ROADBLOCKS


WITH BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE The UK ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars may have been pushed back to 2035, but many businesses are looking to their own Net Zero targets, and the switch to an EV fleet is one of the most significant ways to reduce emissions. Stuart Little, business development manager at Powerstar, considers the issues facing companies


looking to make the switch, and the energy management technologies that can make the transition easier


ensure secure supply across the whole of their network. Even where feasible and approved, the backlog for new connections remains significant. There are plans to remove


Powerstar EV charging point T


o help meet sustainability targets, the case for investment in an electric fleet is obvious.


The Energy Saving Trust estimates that transport accounts for 28% of all greenhouse gas emissions - the largest share of all sectors, outstripping energy generation, and business and residential usage. But, concerns over the charging infrastructure necessary to support such investment present real issues for many businesses. As the Energy Saving Trust notes, capacity limitations may ‘quickly become an issue, regardless of the type of chargepoint used’, raising the question of grid constraints, especially where public charging coverage cannot be relied upon to keep pace with commercial demands. Last year saw a 43% annual increase in public


electric car chargers, which is on track to hit the target of 300,000 public charging points. But, as the most suitable locations are taken, new installations may well become harder to achieve. Rapid EV charging can require up to 350kW, the


same capacity as would charge 15 vehicles with 3.5kW slow chargers. Slow charging, however, often does not fit with the logistical need for keeping fleets on the road. And here, grid constraints can make the switch to an electric fleet prohibitively expensive, or even impossible without additional energy infrastructure technologies on-site, since the additional capacity needed for EV charging may take a site over its agreed capacity with the Distribution Network Operator (DNO). If this is the case, an application for additional


grid connection will be required. In the worst case scenario, if the DNO deems that such an additional connection could jeopardise local supply across what is likely to be an already-stretched network, then the application will be denied. The DNO’s hands may be tied, given their mandate to


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‘unrealistic’ projects from the waiting list, but these have already been met with legal objections and, with approximately 80 projects applying for new connections every month, there is a reported queue


of around 1,600 proposals, with waiting times potentially up to 13 years. Adding to this, the cost of new connections - depending on fleet size, this can be anywhere between £100,000/MW and £1.7million/MW - and the cost of switching to a sustainable EV fleet, can be prohibitive.


purchased from the grid – ideally at times when energy costs are lowest – for use when needed, along with any energy generated on-site from renewable assets. This stored energy is then available whenever required for EV charging. The BESS stores electricity as DC rather than AC, which can also facilitate faster charging. Looking to the wider picture, where mass EV charging at peak times would place significant stress on the National Grid, EVs charged from a BESS do not contribute to spikes in demand as they are not drawing power directly for the Grid. Where a BESS incorporates an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), this can protect a site from the risk of disruption should the roll-out of EVs not be managed properly. If there is any disruption to power, the BESS can keep the full site running until either normal power is resumed or, in the event of longer incidents, until backup generation kicks in. Ultimately, for the 2035 deadline to


Stuart Little


be feasible, far more investment in charging infrastructure is needed. But for companies taking control of their own sustainability policies now, investment in EV fleets realistically requires consideration of energy


A BESS stores energy purchased from the grid – ideally at times when energy costs are lowest – for use when needed


HOW ENERGY STORAGE CAN HELP To overcome these issues, many businesses are taking the advice of the Energy Savings Trust, and investing in energy storage for load buffering. This is both to address constraints and to maximise the benefit of on-site renewables such as solar PV or wind turbines, for economical and sustainable EV charging. With a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS),


chargepoints are not connected to the grid, circumventing the possibility of exceeding authorised capacity. A BESS stores energy


ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Spring 2024


management technologies to support the switch. The starting point should be a full site survey and feasibility study,


ideally talking to specialists with state-of-the-art modelling and simulation technology to prove the viability of the project before you commit. A BESS with UPS installed alongside renewable assets provides both the means to safely charge EVs without the threat of being penalised by the DNO, while also offering maximum flexibility for economical and low carbon energy management.


Powerstar T: 0333 230 1327 www.powerstar.com


www.essmag.co.uk


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