Demonstrator for UK's First Solar Electric Forecourt

GRIDSERVE are bringing to the UK market a revolutionary product: the Solar Electric Forecourt(r) that will make electric vehicle charging as easy as using a petrol station and be supplied by clean, low-cost solar energy. Our national network will address public concerns around mass-market EV charging that is currently preventing widespread adoption while simultaneously balancing the electricity grid and expanding solar energy generation. Each site will contain up to 24 ultra-rapid charging bays with charging speeds of less than 30 minutes, a multi-megawatt battery storage system, solar canopy and on-site facilities including convenience retail, healthy eating and airport-style lounges with high-speed internet.

The UK's first Solar Electric Forecourt(r) demonstrator is a key step in GRIDSERVE's vision to deliver convenient, mass-market, rapid charging at prices that are competitive to home charging. The UK-wide network roll-out will include over 100 future-proof local community charging hubs across urban areas and transit corridors requiring an ambitious £1B capital investment programme that is strongly aligned to the UK Government's Road to Zero strategy. GRIDSERVE has worked with world-class partners to design the sites including Arup, a leading multi-disciplinary design firm and Chargepoint, which operates the world's largest and most open EV charging network primarily in North America. Each site will have dedicated zones for both consumer and fleet vehicles, such as taxis, buses and delivery vehicles and will be designed with the EV user at the centre with the objective of making owning and operating an electric vehicle an enjoyable, convenient and stress-free experience.

This demonstrator project is an exciting opportunity for all consortium partners. Essex County Council (ECC) aims to be at the forefront of the clean growth agenda and electromobility innovation while facilitating low-carbon transport and consumer choice for EV users. The ECC will examine how this innovative product can support reduction in carbon emissions and pollutant levels in urban and urban-fringe areas while assessing the contribution to local communities. Upside Energy will enhance its cloud-based platform to optimise and despatch on-site infrastructure by using advanced algorithms to provide real-time forecasts for EV charging demand and solar generation. Brunel University will use this data and on-site research to study the practicalities of successfully operating a Solar Electric Forecourt(r) based on customer numbers, arrival and charging times, power requirements and usage of on-site facilities. Together, these collaborative workstreams will provide invaluable insights during the demonstrator project and be exploited across the national network roll-out.