Ofgem is the independent energy regulator for the UK. Working with government, industry, and consumer groups, it strives to deliver a net-zero energy economy at the lowest cost to consumers while promoting competition and innovation. Recently, it has unveiled a proposed new policy that would expand the availability of vehicle-to-grid technology in the UK so that EV drivers can sell the energy stored in their car batteries back to power grid. It’s all part of a plan to make the switch away from fossil fuel cars more affordable for consumers.
In its purest form, V2G technology allows local utilities to draw power from the batteries of electric cars when demand peaks. That, in turn, allows them to avoid powering up so-called “peaker plants,” which are typically gas-fired thermal generating stations that sit idle until needed. Bringing them online is quite expensive. The dirty little secret of peaker plants is that they tend to emit large amounts of carbon dioxide during the start-up phase and are exempt from normal emissions rules during that time.
According to The Guardian, if enough drivers take advantage of the opportunity to make money from their car batteries by using vehicle-to-grid technology, the UK could avoid investing in new power plants with the equivalent generation capacity of up to 10 large nuclear power stations. That could help keep energy bills lower for all households in Great Britain, even those that do not have an electric vehicle parked in the driveway. An additional benefit is that tapping into a large number of vehicle batteries will allow utility companies to avoid some of the cost of installing grid scale battery storage facilities.
See UK Energy Regulator Supports Vehicle-To-Grid Proposal
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The UK electricity regulator is proposing a new V2G initiative for the nation.