The first two-way charging point in Finland was installed in the Suvilahti district in Helsinki in connection with mySMARTLife project partner Helen’s solar power plant and electricity storage facility. The V2G charging point enables not only charging of an electric vehicle, but also using it as an electricity storage unit and for balancing of the electricity system.
The public two-way charging point is implemented in cooperation between Helen, Liikennevirta, a Finnish operator of charging stations for electric cars, and Nissan. So far, there are no similar charging points in public use anywhere else in Europe.
In the future, the owner of an electric vehicle can utilise the vehicle’s battery as an energy storage unit at home with a two way charger and also take part in the balancing of the electricity market and gain benefits as part of the service.
Electric vehicle drivers’ participation in balancing the grid will be important when electric vehicles on the one hand, and solar and wind power plants on the other hand will become more common. Therefore, batteries of all sizes, i.e. electricity storage units, are needed. Control systems that optimise the entities will also be necessary in order to maintain a balance between electricity generation and consumption.
