Vehicle to Grid Technology Is Happening in the Netherlands
Gary Tulie, long-time colleague extraordinaire, writes:
Craig, here is one of the things I predicted when helping with Bullish on Renewable Energy. In the Netherlands, 6000 Tesla electric vehicles are beginning to show the potential of controllable charging to help integrate large quantities of extra renewable generation into the power grid.
The next step would be to permit reverse flow of maybe 10 to 20% of battery charge back into the grid when wholesale spot market electricity prices spike. This might only happen 10 to 20 hours a year, but in those ultra-peak hours, prices can spike to thousands of Euro per MWh due to scarcity.
There is no question in my mind that electric transportation and smart grid will eventually achieve sufficient penetration in the marketplace to support this idea, i.e., vehicle to grid (V2G). And you’re absolutely right that offsetting the need to build peaker plants that have value only 10 – 20 hours per year in the UK (in the US it’s a couple of hundred) is exceedingly attractive.
The interesting point is that all of this is moving along at a fairly quick pace, especially considering the extremely potent regressive political elements in today’s world. Exactly when everything comes together, and which precise technologies emerge victorious, is anyone’s guess. But I agree with you in predicting that V2G is very likely to be one of the winners.
Craig,
The enthusiastic young couple in your photo must be a very euro-centric couple of Netherlanders since they are wearing the colours of neighbouring Denmark !
I’m afraid the impact of only 6000 Ev’s from over 8 million cars in the Netherlands (1,054,138 sold last year alone), isn’t very significant.
While I applaud the spirit of such optimism, I fear any impact of such technologies will occur in the distant future.
OMG you’re right. Hilarious. Let me change the photo.
Don’t forget that it will soon to be illegal to sell a car with an ICE in the Netherlands. These people mean business, and it’s a beautiful thing to behold.
Also, a high percentage of EVs isn’t a gating factor to V2G. The main benefit of V2G is peak shaving for just 10 – 20 hours/year, and that doesn’t require a ton of EVs to make feasible.
Craig,
The bill passed in 2016 by the lower house but rejected by the upper house will have to be re presented to both houses as a result of the 2017 election.
Even if passed it wouldn’t have much force since it would still have to get through the quagmire of EU regulations.
The Netherlands is a very small land area, not much bigger than New Jersey. The 2025 target just won’t happen, and even it it became law, the Dutch would simply buy cars in France, Germany, or Belgium.
While I applaud the idea, it’s really more symbolic than practical.
Marco Polo I believe your “distant future” forecast for this EV to Grid concept is being grossly optimistic.
Lawrence Coomber
Hi Lawrence.
Very possibly. I agree it all seems a bit far-fetched, but who knows where technology may lead in the ” distant future”.