Electric vehicle batteries could be key to enhanced energy storage: Study

Electric car batteries could be used to boost energy storage in the future, bringing electricity to the grid during times of scarcity or storing electricity during times of excess, a new study showed Tuesday.

Renewable energy is essential to the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, but the need to scale rapidly and disruptions to wind and solar have raised concerns about meeting electricity demand.

One way to help solve this problem is to promote storage capacity of the grid, so that even if there is no sun or wind energy supply will not be interrupted.

New research published on Tuesday suggests electric vehicle batteries could give a short-term boost net store during times of increased demand or lower supply, by setting up “car to grid” or “second use” programs.

“Taking this potential will have important implications for energy transitions,” the study was published in the journal Nature. natural communication.

The “vehicle-to-grid” approach would allow motorists to connect car batteries to the grid for short-term storage when needed, the authors say.

For example, commercial fleets can bring electricity to the grid while in a warehouse.

“Second-use” plans will allow motorists to sell or donate car batteries after they are no longer used to power the vehicle, usually when their capacity drops below 70 to 80 percent.

micropayments

Even low levels of driver engagement can make a big difference, the researchers say.

“A low participation rate of 12 to 43 percent is needed to supply short-term grid storage demand globally,” study co-author Chengjian Xu, of Leiden University in the Netherlands, told AFP.

“Short-term grid storage needs could be met as early as 2030 across most regions,” he added, adding that this is a conservative estimate.

By 2050, it will exceed the storage capacity needed to help limit global warming to below 2C, as outlined by the International Renewable Energy Agency.

The work examined global data—including from the main electric vehicle battery markets in China, India, the European Union, and the United States—taking into account average driving distance, behavior and temperature. drivers’ attitudes, all of which can affect the condition of a car’s battery.

The authors say governments should put in place incentives and regulations to ensure vehicle use and second use programs can be successful.

“This could include market-based efforts, such as micropayments for services to the grid,” Chengjian said, adding that using grid-tied transportation electricity will do less harm to battery life.

Several car companies such as Hyundai and Renault have tested vehicles equipped with the grid-connected vehicle technology, while some Teslas are already compatible.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that there will be about 200 million yen tram sales by 2030—about 20 percent of all cars sold—an 11-fold increase from today.

IEA analyst Luis Lopez told AFP using Car battery as short-term storage is “quite promising but it’s not a silver bullet”, as it will provide less than one percent of the storage needed under the net zero scenario by 2050.

It will also require proper “communication” between the electrical system and the Electric Car.

“If the electric system, EV (electric vehicle) and charging infrastructure all speak the same language, it will be easier to aggregate more vehicles for the needs of the power system.”

© 2023 AFP