Ovo has unveiled a range of products that, together with its intelligent platform Vcharge, could form the components of a distributed, domestic energy system for the future.
The range includes a domestic electric vehicle-to-grid charger, designed and manufactured in the UK.
Ovo says the charge point will accelerate the global transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and will enable drivers to sell surplus energy from their EV batteries back to the grid.
Ovo CEO and founder Stephen Fitzpatrick said: “We’re enabling thousands of EV batteries to help balance the grid in times of peak demand, more renewable energy to come onto the system, and households to reduce their electricity bills.
“This is the first step in building the distributed energy system of the future. One that is truly customer centric and built around households and their connected energy storage devices.
“Our completely new approach to energy has been made possible by the convergence of emerging technologies, applying intelligence, and years of working with customers to redesign the entire energy system.”
Using VCharge, Ovo’s bi-directional charger will give drivers the option to discharge and sell surplus electricity from their EV batteries back to the grid, helping to supply energy at times of peak demand.
VCharge will also optimise vehicle charging to take advantage of cheaper electricity when it is available and when there are more renewables in the system.
In addition, Ovo is launching a Smart Charger that will also enable EVs to be charged during off-peak hours, thereby easing pressure on the electricity grid as well as allowing drivers to take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity.
Ovo says that VCharge is a highly scalable system that captures the value of flexibility present in all energy resources.
It remotely connects distributed flexible electrical devices and aggregates them into a virtual power plant. This connected system reacts as a whole to changes in demand and supply, recognising strain and reacting within a second.
By intelligently managing both generation and demand in this way, using VCharge could facilitate more renewable energy generation and supply without the need for costly infrastructure investment.
OVO also announced its debut in the home battery market with a Home Energy Storage solution. The battery, with a custom-built control and communications unit, will dynamically and proactively manage energy and power use. It will enable everyone to store, use and sell back electricity, whether or not they produce it themselves, says Ovo.
Read more on Ovo's plans to target fleets in the May 3rd edition of Fleet News.
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Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.
Reg - 20/04/2018 16:17
Important to recognise that there is a cost. All batteries have a finite life in terms of number of charge/discharge cycles. So the discharge to grid and re-charge from grid have to factored in.