2021

Launch of Vehicle to Building and Vehicle to Grid Proof of Concept in the U.K.

Mar. 15. 2021
Marubeni Corporation

Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”) is pleased to announce that it is launching a Proof of Concept (hereinafter, “PoC”) through its subsidiaries and partners in the UK, to explore the commercialisation of services whereby EVs store surplus energy from decentralised power generation facilities, such as roof-top solar panels, and supply energy to buildings when needed (hereinafter, “Vehicle to Building”). EVs will also provide power frequency, and supply and demand adjustment to the grid system by feeding electricity back to the grid at peak times and/or in the case of an emergency (hereinafter, “Vehicle to Grid”).

The U.K. government passed legislation in June 2019 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and is advancing policies to realize a low-carbon society. In the power sector, there has been a shift from a one-way supply structure, whereby large-scale power plants generate electricity and supply it to consumers, to a bi-directional supply structure, in which consumers may also own renewable power facilities and produce and consume green electricity, selling surplus electricity to the grid.

Also, with the recent growth in large-scale renewable energy such as offshore wind power, which generates a variable amount of electricity according to the weather conditions, there is an increasing need for grid stabilization through supply and demand adjustment.

In the car industry, the U.K. government has announced its policy to ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles beginning in 2030, and the take-up of EVs is expected to continue growing. Under such circumstances, the requirement to provide one-stop solutions, for instance electricity supply and energy management services for homes, buildings and offices through the use of EVs, is expected to increase further in the future.

Considering this exciting environment, Marubeni and its subsidiaries, energy retailer SmartestEnergy and car sales and service provider Marubeni Auto Investment (U.K.), have taken the lead in launching this PoC, working with their partners Origami Energy, Grid Edge and Virta.  By studying the development and commercialisation of Vehicle to Building and Vehicle to Grid services through this PoC, Marubeni aims to contribute to the realization of a low-carbon society.

<About the PoC>

Item Contents
Duration March 2021 – February 2022 (one year)
Location Norton Way Nissan, Letchworth Garden City (car dealership under MAIUK)
Content of PoC

Commercialisation study of Vehicle to Building and Vehicle to Grid services
・Peak shifting, shaving and optimisation of electricity bill using on-site solar and EVs
・Electricity trading using EVs as flexibility, while considering the EV use as mobility

<About the Marubeni Group>

Company Name Marubeni Europe plc Marubeni Europower Limited SmartestEnergy Limited Marubeni Auto Investment (UK) Limited
Location London London London Manchester
Established February 1985 October 1991 May 2000 September 2000
Activities Trade and Investment Development of new power projects Energy retail and aggregation Car sales and aftercare service
Representatives Nobuhiro Yabe Tomoki Nishino Robert Groves Toru Masuyama
Role in PoC Equipment ownership and commercialisation studies Overall management and commercialisation studies EV control and service development EV operation, providing site and commercialisation studies

<About PoC Partners>

Company Name Origami Energy Limited Grid Edge Limited Virta Limited
Location Cambridge Birmingham Birmingham
Established July 2013 April 2016 May 2019
Activities Energy trading solution Energy management solution EV charger and charging solution
Representatives Peter Bance Tom Anderson Stuart Tolley
Role in PoC Remote real-time monitoring and visualisation of assets to deliver flexibility services Behind-the-meter flexibility solution development Providing bi-directional charger and charging solutions

 

<PoC site pictures> <PoC site pictures>

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