Until now, electric vehicles were seen to reduce vehicle emissions but now CEC (Central Electricity Authority) of India is supporting the use of EVs for grid energy storage. Yes, the organization is Emphasizing the significance of smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services for grid stability along with load balancing and peak shaving. As per their report prepared in collaboration with experts from IIT Bombay, Delhi, and Roorkee, parked EVs have untapped potential for grid support.
According to a report by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the organization is advocating for the use of electric vehicles (EVs) as a means of energy storage. This move aims to provide substantial support to the national grid. The report, which received valuable contributions from experts at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Roorkee, among others, presents an exciting vision of the future, where electric vehicles (EVs) play a crucial role in supporting the grid. These EVs are capable of providing essential services such as peak shaving and load balancing, ensuring a more efficient and stable power system.
According to the CEA report, smart charging and vehicle to grid (V2G) services play a crucial role in highlighting the importance of electric vehicles (EVs). The report highlights the potential of using EVs for supporting power grid, as adaptable power loads and decentralized storage resources. This not only enhances the flexibility of power system operations but also provides an additional layer of support.
The CEA report stated, “With smart charging, EVs could adapt their charging patterns to flatten peak demand, allow valleys and support real-time balancing of the grid by adjusting their charging levels.”
The report emphasizes the significant capacity of parked EVs. It reveals that these vehicles are idle for a staggering 80-90% of their lifetime, presenting a significant opportunity. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the vast electricity storage capacity that parked EVs possess.
According to the report, the implementation of smart charging infrastructure has the potential to effortlessly incorporate renewable energy and the importance of regulatory policies that endorse sustainable EV charging systems.
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According to the CEA, the declining expenses associated with generating renewable power render electricity as a financially feasible fuel option for transportation. Moreover, the capability of electric vehicles to store and feed energy back into the grid provides invaluable flexibility for the operations of the power system.
Despite some challenges like increasing peak demand, grid congestion, and the requirement for infrastructure upgrades to support high-power chargers, the report recognizes the importance of various factors in successfully implementing V2G services. These factors include technology standards, electric load management strategies, battery swapping, and advanced metering infrastructure.
CEC of India is supporting the use of EVs for grid energy storage and suggests using bidirectional charging systems, interoperability, standardized practices, and strong communication networks between mobility and the grid to overcome these challenges.
Source: Electric Vehicles Utilization for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Services
