Van and truck operators in the UK can monetize their EV chargers by pairing them with battery energy storage to participate in the National Grid’s new Demand Flexibility Service (DFS), according to storage systems provider Connected Energy.

The DFS aims to incentivize businesses to reduce their demand on the grid during peak periods each winter from November to March. National Grid will designate at least 12 periods of exceptionally high demand known as “events,” during which it will pay participants to stop drawing energy from the network. Each event could last up to four hours, and businesses will get paid for the length of time they participate and the amount by which they reduce their energy consumption.

A fleet depot or truck dealership requires high-capacity chargers, typically 150 kW or 350 kW, making them well suited to participate in load reduction as they are more likely to charge at set times. Pairing EV chargers with a battery energy storage system (BESS) would allow fleets to charge their vehicles while getting paid for reducing the amount of grid energy they consume during peak periods.

“This could be a real game-changer for fleets,” said Nigel Dent, Head of Sales at Connected Energy. “The modeling we’ve already seen for truck depots and HGV service centers indicates that companies could earn up to £15,000 a year by using a BESS to participate in DFS and other schemes. You can continue to charge the vehicle for that hour without drawing from the grid, meaning you can claim under DFS without impacting your operations.”

Source: Connected Energy