Interface and Network Infrastructure to Support EV Participation in Smart Grids

This project will investigate new technologies that can support high levels of electric vehicle (EV) charging and deliver the benefits that flexible charging can bring for electricity supply and the integration of renewable generation.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are a central part of transport and energy policy for many nations. They represent a key pathway for reducing petroleum dependence and promoting transportation sustainability (provided the electricity generation mix has been successfully decarbonised). If EVs displace most petroleum vehicles then they will represent a very significant new and additional demand to be serviced via electricity networks. EVs also present opportunities for power network operation; their charging also represents a very large discretionary load that can be managed to provide Smart Grid services and assist the integration of clean energy.

EV integration can also contribute industrial economic growth and high quality employment. A recent study for the UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills identified a potential for 130GW annual installation of power electronics for EV in the UK and perhaps 5,000 GW worldwide. This level of installation presents huge opportunities both for energy savings (even relatively modest efficiency gains in each installation will aggregate to large energy savings) and for economic benefits from the design and manufacture of high valued-added power electronic system.

This project brings together a number of leading Chinese and UK research institutions to address the infrastructure required to support and exploit high levels of EV charging. A key element of the project is to understand the role of advanced power electronics in future EV charging networks. This applied work directly compliments the basic research to be undertaken by the EPSRC Underpinning Power Electronics 2012 program. The joint UK China consortium brings together complimentary skills sets and explores and promotes mutual understanding of the research challenges and national perspectives. Collaboration will help to challenge pre-conceived research concepts and develop new ideas. The investigators will be in a unique position to define the key research challenges, technical requirements and technologies fundamental to the two countries, and therefore internationally.

In addition to improving collaborative activities through an understanding of cultural backgrounds, technical expertise will be shared through a programme of collaboration, exchange visits, joint workshops, publications and patent submissions. It is intended that such exchanges will form the basis of long-term collaborative arrangements that will facilitate submission of further research proposals to EPSRC in the UK and to NSFC in China. Further funding will also be sought from such bodies as the Royal Academy of Engineering, for example, to facilitate visiting scholars, investigator and researcher exchange visits.

Electric vehicles have been identified as a key tool for meeting CO2 reduction targets whist at the same providing sustainable personal mobility. China has the potential to become the leading market for EVs. In 2012 China published "Energy saving and development plan for alternative fuel vehicle" which includes a target of 5 Million E.V by 2020. In the UK it has been projected that by 2050 the average requirement for electric vehicle charging could reach an average of 30GW. These EV aspirations must be supported by a charging infrastructure presenting a huge potential market for the high value added power electronics design and manufacturing.

Increasing the capacity and flexibility of the EV charge network will allow improved utilization/capture of clean energy and reduced requirements for (often CO2 intensive) reserve generation. Improved access to EV stored energy for network services will improve network resilience, reduce renewable energy spillage and reduce net capital cost of generation. Skills:

The project will develop expertise in power electronics which has been identified as a key skill area. The NSFC-EPSRC collaborative research program will help to expand and maintain the skills base. To further skills impact additional funding for PhD level researchers will be sought through national schemes such as the Energy Technology Partnership (ETP).

Electric vehicles have been identified as a key element of climate change mitigation and energy security strategy. This research will help to provide technical base that can facilitate expansion of EVs and the integration of clean generation. By facilitating EV deployment, this research will help to meet aspirations for flexible and personal transport whilst reducing oil dependence and CO2 emissions. Complimentary operation of EV battery charging and large scale renewable generation can help to meet customer requirements and expectations of power system reliability.