Projects

Projects: Projects for Investigator

• Quantify the impact of the additional demand from the freight EV charging uptake.
• Provide insights into how reinforcement can be deferred.
• Understand interactions between EVs and local sub-stations and develop active management techniques for EVs to offer load balancing services to the grid.

The project will produce a joint detailed White Paper on the role of network operators in the EV rollout in logistics across Europe. As part of the FREVUE project, to encourage new networks and the exchange of know-how between project partners, a working group on grid issues and the impact on the EV logistics supply chain has been established.

The following criteria will be considered when assessing whether the project has been successful: The monitoring systems have been installed and commissioned successfully at the trial site and are performing correctly. An understanding of whether an improved or flexible connections offering can be developed for the expansion of the charging capacity has been highlighted.

This pro-forma is seeking funding to complete an existing IFI and EU funded project which will complete in August 2017. In the UK, it is anticipated that there will be a proliferation of Electric Vehicles (EVs) as the nation transitions into a low carbon economy. The ambition is to achieve a 14% CO2 reduction from transport by 2020 and substantial decarbonisation by 2050. Studies have focused on the use of EVs as small to medium cars, however, there is a lot of interest in the decarbonisation of freight delivery which means there is a potential for a proliferation in EV use for freight EVs with the differing impacts on the distribution network. Distribution network operators could be seen as potential barriers to freight EV take up if the capital costs of reinforcing the network to meet the demand from charging is high. This project will explore new insights into freight EV demands and profiles for the distribution networks. Insight to date has highlighted that the greatest impact from EV charging will be seen in the lower voltage circuits and substations, particularly in areas where there is a concentration of EV uptake and little capacity on the network.

The intention of this project is to assess the impact on the distribution network from the commercial operation of large freight EVs and the potential impacts of a larger scale deployment on local energy distribution infrastructure. Data is being collected from a fleet of 18 freight EVs, used in the logistics business, which is planned to be expanded by an additional 50 EVs - all charged from one site. The project forms part of a wider EU Framework 7 project. Furthermore, the equipment used in the additional EV charging required is likely to cause high levels of harmonic voltage distortion. Engineering Recommendation G5/4 sets the planning levels for harmonic voltage distortion to be used in the process for the connection of non-linear equipment and LV equipment creating disturbance levels outside of this would need to be connected at HV, increasing the cost and acting as a barrier to the technology uptake. The project will monitor the charge points at the freight EV operators depot where there is currently limited capacity which means any additional charge points on the site will require a new connection to upgrade the supply, at cost to the fleet operator. 3-phase monitoring equipment will be installed against individual EV charging posts to capture data at 10 min intervals on energy consumption (for various charge cycles) which will be matched with data obtained from existing monitoring equipment at the substation. The data will be analysed to identify the impact on the network including the diversified peak demand, the profile of the demand, the opportunities for shifting the load, the characteristics of the EV drive cycle that dictate the demand, the profile on the network meeting the demand and any associated risks to the network.

The main activities of the project are:

• Monitoring installation: 3 phase meters to monitor the power consumption of the EV chargers used. Monitoring of key parameters at the charge points at the depot.
• Power Quality monitoring installation: Power quality measurement at Kentish Town local substation.
• Data transfer to WP3 (Analysis) lead: Transfer of the data collected as highlighted above for analysis.
• Technical assessment of EVs for logistics report: Conclusions and recommendations on technical suitability of EVs for city logistics - including the impact on the network.
• Monitoring decommission and uninstall: Uninstall monitoring after the trials are over.
• Power Quality monitoring uninstall: Uninstall PQ monitoring after the trials are over.
• Grid impact presentation: Presentation will be given to an audience of the project consortia and other stakeholders on the impacts and potential mitigating measures of installing EV charging infrastructure on the network.

The Framework 7 project consists of five Work Packages (WPs) and UK Power Networks is mainly involved in WP2 (Demonstrators) and is supporting the rest of the WPs.

Project work packages

• WP1 - Assessment and ICT framework: Month 1 - 24: Minor UK Power Networks involvement
• WP2 - Demonstration trials: Month: 1 - 48: UK Power Networks involvement
• WP3 - Analysis: Month: 10 - 50: Minor UK Power Networks involvement
• WP4 - Dissemination: Month 1 - 54: Minor UK Power Networks involvement
• WP5 - Project coordination and management: Month 1 - 54: Minor UK Power Networks involvement.

Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above