ACCIONA Energia sets up the first bi-directional charging network for electric vehicles in Spain

Spain, Nov. 30 -- ACCIONA Energia has set up the Vehicle to Grid (V2G) Balearic Islands project, creating the first bi-directional electric vehicle charging network to operate in Spain. This ecosystem is 100% renewable, and it will allow to use the electricity stored in the batteries of electric vehicles for self-consumption or to inject it back into the grid.Attendees to the presentation of the project included the President of the Balearic Government, Francina Armengol, and the Director of Corporate Development and Strategy of ACCIONA Energia, Jose Entrecanales, accompanied by the Vice-President of the Balearic Islands Government, Juan Pedro Yllanes, and the Innovation Director of ACCIONA Energa­a, Belen Linares. The event also included the participation of Isabel del Olmo, Head of the Sustainable Mobility Department of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), the entity that has funded the project through the MOVES Singulares II program, and the Mayor of Manacor, Miquel Oliver Gomila.The V2G Balearic Islands demo project involves eight Balearic companies that will install 16 charging points. ACCIONA Energia has provided participating entities with eight electric cars with V2G technology that can also be used as storage systems for self-consumption or to feed electricity back into the grid. The organizations participating in the first stage are Pavimentos Lloseta, Carnicas Sa&#186a±er, Droperba, Asociacia³n Estel de Llevant, Hotel La Reserva Rotana and Hermanas Buades. Two companies more will join a second imminent phase, expanding the V2G network to the islands of Menorca and Ibiza.This innovation pilot project marks the first implementation of V2G technology on an industrial scale in Spain, with a sufficient dimension to establish patterns of behavior and use. The conclusions drawn will allow to advance in the technological and economic maturity of this energy service model.The interaction between the electric vehicles and the network will be fully digitalized, allowing to operate and supervise the delivery of electricity in both directions and analyze the performance of the charging and injection processes. This experience will enable ACCIONA Energa­a to monitor the main variables of V2G operations and to test and validate applications such as complementary services to the grid, or the stabilization of demand peaks, among others. VECHICLE TO GRID TECHNOLOGYVehicle to Grid (V2G) refers to the technology that enables a two-way communication between an electric vehicle and the grid. This communication makes it possible to use the battery of an electric car to power the vehicle's traction, to push back the energy from the battery to the power grid, or to inject it into self-consumption systems, with the vehicle becoming an electricity supplier. The battery can be used for consumption or for supply, depending on parameters at a given time such as the level of electricity demand, the price of electricity or the technical conditions of the grid.A V2G fleet can, for example, help the grid to cover demand peaks without the need to rely on fossil fuel plants, be an emergency solution in the event of sudden blackouts, consume electricity when the price of energy is cheaper, feed self-consumption systems, and provide adjustment services to the grid to maintain the necessary technical balance, among other applications.In addition, some of these services are paid, so a vehicle with a V2G charging system can generate income for its owner while parked in the garage.V2G technology is still at an early stage of development. The equipment and devices exist, but the technology still needs to mature, the regulatory framework needs to be established in a clear and enabling manner, and the penetration of electric mobility needs to be extended to make V2G a feasible and economically competitive option. Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Pivotal Sources. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at contentservices@htlive.com