First Bus trials aims to help Grid stability via Flex Charging at its Glasgow depot
First Bus has begun a trial using its electric bus depots to help balance the UK’s electricity system by adding flexibility into bus charge schedules.
The trial at the First Bus depot in Glasgow, will be extended to the Great Yarmouth depot in Norfolk later in the spring.
First Bus says that by being flexible when buses are charged, they can consume excess renewable energy when its available - particularly from wind power in Scotland - and also reduce charging during peak consumption periods, which helps balance the load from the network.
This the first trial of its kind at bus depots that aims to assist the National Grid via its balancing mechanism for supply and demand ensuring energy consumption is tailored to the Grid’s needs.
Isabel McAllister, Chief Sustainability Officer for First Bus, said: “We’ve built significant electric capacity across our depots, and the next step is using it more intelligently.
“By charging when the grid needs us to, we can help reduce wasted renewable energy, support system stability and improve the overall economics of electrification.”
Scotland is a large generator of wind energy, but the grid has capacity limitations meaning some power cannot be transmitted to where demand is highest resulting in curtailed renewable energy.
By increasing demand at times of high renewable energy generation, it aims to maintain the flow of renewables into the grid, rather than shutting down the generation. And the bus depot is a good place to consume excess energy thanks to the large battery packs in the busses, and the regularity in energy demand they have.
Optimo Energy is the trial partner for First Bus who aim to optimise charging in real-time when the grid signals excess power, or peak demand, ensuring the busses remain ready for service.
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