‘Smart island’ features all-sustainable electric ecosystem
Renault is working with utility company Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (EEM) on a smart electric ecosystem on the island of Porto Santo that also includes Bouygues Energies et Services, The Mobility House and ABB.
The 18 month project started in January and uses electric vehicles, ‘second-life’ batteries that are no longer used in cars, smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) communication links to boost the island’s energy independence and stimulate the production of renewable energy. Hitachi is working on a similar UK project in the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall.
“We are delighted to be teaming up with EEM and Madeira Regional Government today to establish this smart electric ecosystem which demonstrates to what extent the electric revolution is changing our everyday lives beyond just transport. Our aim is to build a model that can be carried over to other islands, eco-districts and cities, while consistently striving to achieve large-scale rollout of electric mobility solutions that are affordable for all,” said Eric Feunteun, Electric Vehicles and New Business Programme Director at Renault.
In the first phase, 20 volunteer users in Porto Santo will drive 14 ZOEs and 6 Kangoo Z.E.s electric cars in everyday use. These vehicles will use smart charging at 40 connected public and private charging points set up by EEM and Renault on the island that adjust the battery charging rates as a function of users’ needs and the availability of electricity via the grid.
Batteries are charged when supply exceeds demand, notably during renewable energy production peaks, and charging ceases when demand for electricity outstrips supply by the grid, optimising the supply of local renewable energy. By the end of 2018, the vehicles will step up their interaction with the grid by providing it with electricity during peak hours. In addition to being smart charged, the electric vehicles will therefore also serve as temporary energy storage units.
Second-life batteries from Renault’s electric vehicles will then be used to store the fluctuating supply of energy produced by Porto Santo’s solar and wind farms. This allows the energy to be recovered by the grid as and when needed to meet local demand and will include some batteries from nearby Madeira. This will be the first demonstration of real life redeployment of second-life batteries in a local ecosystem, says Renault.
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