Vehicle-to-grid trials show promise for system balancing

This is the claim of Octopus Energy Group and National Grid ESO who have announced the successful integration of vehicle-to-grid technology using a test environment of the Balancing Mechanism, National Grid ESO’s primary tool to balance the UK’s electricity system in real-time.

This is the first time that vehicle-to-grid technology has been demonstrated in Great Britain to show that electric vehicles can receive a direct signal from the ESO to support system balancing.

In a series of initial tests run in August 2022, Octopus charged and discharged the batteries of up to 20 electric cars from participating customers at times of grid imbalance.

In a statement, Claire Miller, director of technology and innovation at Octopus Electric Vehicles, said: “This is a real ‘line in the sand’ moment for V2G tech. We have shown that this technology is capable of helping to balance our future, green grid, to the benefit of people and the planet.