Lightspeed

Completed

Energy Efficiency(Transport)
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
UK Power Networks

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 April 2023

01 July 2023

3 months

£170,290

Power

London

Project Contact, UK Power Networks

Project Contact, SPEN - SP Distribution Plc

"The project will meet challenge 4: enabling cost-effective integration of a transport decarbonisation solution aligned to net zero timescales. It will develop a solution that will accelerate deployment of public charging infrastructure, facilitating widespread adoption of EVs. The solution meets requirement 1: effectively facilitate, manage, and integrate multiple demands and demand-side solutions. It will develop a charger for wide deployment with minimal network disruption to facilitate EV demand. It will have DER, smart charging and V2G capabilities, which can be used to provide flexibility services.The energy network innovation comes from the deployment of a DC converter at the point of connection, allowing higher-speed charging with minimal network reinforcement. This converter, with smart charging and V2G capabilities, also has a communication module. This allows for innovation in dynamic power and energy management systems, LV flexibility services, adaptive planning, and near-real-time data access.The experience and capability of project partners:UK Power Networks: as the largest DNO in the UK serving 8.4m customers, we have deep expertise in developing innovative and smart solutions to facilitate charging infrastructure and the uptake of EVs and flexibility services. There are 20,000 public chargers in our licence areas, the most of any DNO.Otaski Energy Solutions: a smart infrastructure and AI-based energy management company that innovates to create circular economies for smart infrastructure. They have developed the first of its kind smart lamppost, the INtuitIV Digital Lamppost (IDL). This project will advance IDLs by developing bi-directional MIMO DC-DC converter hardware that drives a multifunctional system.Brighton and Hove City Council: they serve nearly 300,000 residents on the south coast. They have already rolled out around 200 lamppost chargers in the city, with plans to install a further 400 in the next few years.SP Energy Networks: SPENs experience in offering EV chargepoints will contribute to test the scalability of the solution developed by another DNO.The potential users of the innovation are owners of lampposts, principally local authorities and car park operators, as well as chargepoint operators. The end users are customers, who will use the public charging provided. The project addresses local authorities needs by developing a simple, easy to implement and low-cost solution to public charging, with the potential for a revenue stream from their assets. It meets customers needs by providing fast public charging in convenient on street locations, with the potential for added value from smart charging and V2G services."

01/11/23