World EV Day: Fundamentals Comment
Posted by: electime 9th September 2024
With World EV Day taking place today on 9th September, Dr Jon Hiscock of grid voltage control specialist, Fundamentals Limited, explores how the UK electricity industry needs to accommodate millions of new EV chargers without unbalancing the grid.
“The growth of EVs in the UK may be stuttering, but only temporarily. Government policies, plus the availability of ever-cheaper models, mean the electricity industry needs to be prepared for the explosion of home chargers impacting distribution networks over the next decade.
“If millions of drivers plug their vehicles into 7.2kW chargers during the peak demand period of 5pm – 7.30pm, voltages will drop across the low voltage network unless they are controlled more dynamically than at present.
“To accommodate millions of new EV vehicles and other LTCs (Low Carbon Technologies), we need a grid-wide approach to voltage control. New technologies can deliver grid-wide voltage control at unprecedented levels, extending from primary substations into the furthest reaches of networks, at local community and street levels.
“For example, smart automatic voltage controllers enable substations to respond immediately to sudden changes in supply and demand – including from EV chargers. Power electronics-based devices can provide voltage regulation capability for LV networks whilst simultaneously shifting real and reactive power to reduce or even remove imbalances.
“To drive change, the electricity industry has much to do to ensure that millions of new EV chargers can be added to the grid, while balancing supply and demand, and ensuring that voltages remain stable.”
