Vattenfall hopes to launch a “smart charging” pilot using wind energy from the Hollandse Kust West offshore wind farm if the tender for this wind farm is successful.
The business wants to more intelligently balance supply and demand.
There is a risk of overloading the electrical grid due to the increase in supply of flexible energy sources, like wind and solar, and the tremendous growth of electric transportation. Grid congestion could be avoided by enabling communication between electric vehicles and wind turbines about the availability of wind energy and the need for charging.
According to Vattenfall, the supply and demand of (renewable) energy must first be balanced. As soon as an electric vehicle is connected to the grid, it can start charging at full capacity. Control over when and how quickly electric vehicles charge is possible with smart charging. When and how much energy is needed, the car communicates directly with the charging station.
Vattenfall wants to make sure that the capacity of the electricity grid is matched to the charging requirements of the car and other cars at charging stations by developing this “communication” between the electric car and the charging station. Therefore, according to Vattenfall, the use of a charge card—which facilitates communication between the charging station and the car—is no longer required. As if it were a digital “energy contract” that sent data to the pole, the charge card’s function is processed in the car.
Innovation trial with the Hollandse Kust West wind farm
The supply of wind energy will be taken into account as the next step in smart charging. Vattenfall’s proposal for the Hollandse Kust West (HKW) offshore wind farm includes a large-scale innovation trial in smart charging with 200 to 400 existing charging stations. According to the cutting-edge charging station communication standard (ISO 15118), which enables “control” of cars via the charging stations and takes into account the amount of power generated by HKW, the charging stations have been modified. Cars can be charged more quickly if there is a plentiful supply of wind energy from the offshore wind farm; when there is little wind, charging is more evenly distributed throughout the day. In order to make electric driving even more cost-effective, it can also be controlled so that charging occurs primarily when market prices are favorable.
If the pilot is a success, Vattenfall will examine how the knowledge gained can be applied elsewhere, working with both potential and actual concession providers like the provinces of Noord-Brabant, Limburg, Gelderland, and Overijssel.
Hollandse Kust West’s tendering
Off the Netherlands’ coast, new wind farms will be constructed in the upcoming years. Hollandse Kust West is the subsequent one. This project consists of two plots, plots VI and VII, with plot VII being evaluated primarily on system integration: plans to connect the future energy system as much as possible. For both lots, Vattenfall is in competition. It will be revealed who will receive the construction contract after the summer. from Vattenfall
