Traditionally, power consumption has been met by flexible power production. This means that to keep the power system stable, increased demand has been met with increased production. This is necessary because the physics of the power system requires that input and output are continuously in balance.

As we introduce more renewable energy to the power system, this balance is getting trickier to keep.

Renewables such as wind and solar are less flexible in terms of when they can produce energy simply because their activity is vastly dictated by weather conditions. As the number of wind and solar power production sources increases, our ability to meet power consumption with flexibility is reduced.

Finding a new way to keep the power system in balance becomes a high priority.

To solve the emerging inflexibility in power production we can look for opportunities in the flexibility of power consumption.

Better EV battery capacity – better opportunities

One very flexible energy consumption resource is EV charging. Here’s why.

Higher battery capacity in new electric vehicles pushes the trend from charging once a day to charging once a week. This makes EV charging a flexible resource, which will be particularly valuable in balancing the power system going forward.

If EV owners charge on sunny or windy days, the most flexible power consumers will draw from the least flexible power production. In doing this, they will fulfil their green pursuit.

Today, EV owners are offered solutions that minimise their charging costs based on the next 24 hours. With a changed charging pattern, this optimisation should be done based on the weekly price forecast. This will utilise the full value of their flexibility.

Neighbourhood energy coordination advances renewable integration

A weekly price forecast will compel EV owners to charge on the windiest or sunniest day of the week and support balancing the power system at the central level.

Having all EVs charging at the optimal hour of the week will, on the other hand, increase the risk of grid bottlenecks and voltage issues on the neighbourhood level of the system. This risk can and should be managed locally by neighbourhood energy coordination where and when it is needed. Read more on spark.volue.com.