EV charging trial investigates if dynamic pricing helps balance the grid

An EV charging trial by UK Power Networks, Octopus Energy and EV.Energy is looking at the potential for consumers to help balance energy supply and demand.

Said to be a UK first, the Shift 2.0 project is testing how dynamic pricing influences smart charging, enabling EV drivers to maximise use of cheaper green energy without overloading local electricity networks.

Throughout the trial, UK Power Networks sends a ‘day-ahead’ time-of-use price signal to Octopus Energy and EV.Energy, which combine this with the wholesale price of electricity and other information to schedule EV charging in line with the availability of cheap power and network capacity.

As the UK shifts towards a renewable and green energy system, being able to manage demand flexibly will become increasingly important – and the Shift 2.0 project is trialling new ways of managing those changes in supply and demand.

Already underway, the trial involves more than 1,500 EVs, all responding to dynamic network price signals to help manage demand on the electricity network, and shift energy usage out of peak times.

Results already show the success of dynamic EV charging pricing. In early April this year, the trial revealed that EVs on Intelligent Octopus Go, Octopus Energy’s most popular smart tariff, started charging during low wholesale electricity prices caused by an increased supply of wind energy; even if that was in early evenings which is when local electricity networks are typically most highly used.

Alex Howard, head of flexibility markets at UK Power Networks, said the new dynamic pricing would complement existing flexibility products. “We’re already harnessing the flexibility of electric vehicles to keep the cost of the network down. But as renewable power grows and vehicle charging is increasingly automated, we need to stay one step ahead. The findings of this collaboration will be important in showing how flexibility can evolve to deliver sustainable value to local and national energy systems.”

Alex Schoch, head of flexibility at Octopus Energy, added, “We’re seeing a paradigm shift in global energy – moving from dumb systems to smart ones that dynamically manage energy demand and supply. Charging EVs when green energy is abundant isn’t just good for the planet and boosts renewables, it can also put millions of pounds back into people’s pockets.

“We’re still at the beginning of this new energy era, and we’re excited to get involved with Shift 2.0 to show how gigantic the benefits of flexibly managing energy demand will be.”

Nick Woolley, CEO of EV.Energy, said, “Everyone deserves a clean, affordable and reliable energy system. Building on the country’s world-leading use of demand flexibility to solve grid challenges, EV.Energy is thrilled to be part of the next stage in local flex’s evolution.

“Our goal is to enable all EV drivers to contribute to smoother power system operation and reward them for their participation. As an equipment and energy company agnostic platform and working with our partners, EV.Energy is committed to providing every EV driver the opportunity to benefit from a clean and dynamic energy system.”

The project is due to complete by September 2024.