GridSteer powers EV fast charging station in Aigle

EVFCS (Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Stations) have the benefit to reduce the near complete charging time of a vehicle to around half an hour. However, charging a vehicle on a 150kW EVFCS is equivalent to powering all the appliances of over 300 appartments simultaneously. Plugging and un-plugging electric vehicles (EVs) with such power levels is bound to provide high stress on the network. Additionally, shifting vehicles from fossil fuels to electric alongside the programmed Swiss nuclear phase-out will create even more stress on the supply of electricity. With the increasing number of EVs in Switzerland, a mismatch between transport and power sector evolution can affect both energy and climate strategies. Fully aware of the impact on the grid by the accelerating growth of EVFCS dissemination, the SFOE is funding our innovative project to contribute to the valorisation of these charging stations from a grid constraint to a grid asset.

Growing infrastructure on a strategic research and demonstration site

The rural network of Aigle is unique due to the large amount of photovoltaic and hydropower resources upon which will soon be added four EVFCS. In line with the global energy transition, they well reflect the future grid. Hence, in anticipation of tomorrow’s infrastructure, this pilot project will aim at steering a large Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) already in place and the four EVFCS to optimize the interaction between all energy resources in the grid. The main objective is to ensure essential grid transition readiness in the light of the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050 goals.

Thanks to EPFL spin-off GridSteer’s grid aware, dynamic, flexible, secure, and scalable control solution, the objectives and priorities of the energy resources can be adapted depending on the parties involved (grid operators or industrial prosumers). The services provided (optimal management of the aggregated local resources, Self-consumption optimization, Peak-power shaving, local grid voltage control, line congestion management, primary/secondary frequency regulation, reactive power support to the upstream power grid) will therefore improve both local consumption as well as the coordination between distribution and transmission grid operators.

A European led project to promote energy storage systems

Internationally, Multi Energy Storage Hub For Utility (MESH4U) is a project conducted under the ERA-Net Smart Energy Systems initiative. It brings together industrial and academic partners from Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy focused on innovating new solutions for the integration of multiple energy storage technologies. This summer, the project has already spawned a first EV fast charging station at EPFL with two charging slots and an interactive interface open to the public.

(Press release – ES)