The transition to EVs: are Britain’s grids ready for an all-electric future?

Since the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles was brought forward to 2030, sales of electric vehicles (EVs) have soared. Globally, we’ve seen EVs triple their market share from two years prior. And in the UK, there’s been double-digit year-on-year growth of sales of EVs in every month of 2022. To put these kinds of figures into context, one in every eight new cars that have joined our roads since May is electric, writes Kevin Welstead, EV Sector Director at SSE Energy Solutions.

The electrification of transport is a key component of the UK’s net zero strategy, with the movement of passengers and goods responsible for 27% of all greenhouse gas emissions. As the UK seeks to further break down barriers to EV ownership, the expansion of charging infrastructure is a crucial first hurdle that must be overcome. To do so, we need to better understand the impact EVs and infrastructure have on our power grid and energy supply.

According to the National Grid, if everyone in the UK got up and decided to drive an EV tomorrow, power demand would increase by 10%. On the face of it, this might not sound like a huge leap. However, roughly speaking, this increase would represent the equivalent annual electricity consumption of Scotland and Wales combined.

It’s estimated that by 2040 the UK’s power demand will more than double – expanding by an additional 100TWh. If we’re to meet this additional demand and ensure the grid is prepared to meet the needs of fully-electrified transport, there are important challenges we need to address. Most obvious is increasing the proportions of our power supply that come from renewable sources and ensuring our grid has the necessary capacity to carry it.

Large-scale wind, solar and offshore energy projects currently in development across the UK, including SSE’s 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm, are playing an integral role in achieving this. Huge strides are also being made in distributed energy resource management software (DERMS) – sophisticated technology which helps to maximise existing grid capacity to support the efficient connection of new green assets to our electricity network.

As we meticulously plan the building and connection of new energy assets needed to achieve net zero, we must also give equal attention to how we make access to the power they generate convenient and simple for a range of purposes – especially EV charging.

EV batteries can be a key resource for a balanced grid. New Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology allows power to move back and forth using bi-directional charging. By recharging when demand is low and putting energy into the grid when it is high, V2G helps to manage the peaks and troughs, balance the network and make it more efficient. SSE has implemented V2G in its large-scale ‘Bus2Grid’ project, which has seen 28 e-buses in London equipped with this technology.

Broadening V2G capabilities could be a game changer for grid capacity concerns. For instance, if the entire London bus fleet of around 9,000 vehicles were to be converted with V2G technology, the recouped energy could power up to 150,000 homes.

Away from public transport, up to 49% of non-EV drivers surveyed reported parking at a workplace or place of education at least once a week. As these drivers reported parking at these locations for a long time, having on-site charging facilities could be an effective and convenient solution for many.

It’s essential that new, local construction projects are designed from the ground up – and existing ones retrofitted – to include the necessary grid capabilities to support EV charging. A recent UK Government research report suggested charging at workplaces, places of education and destinations such as supermarkets or retail parks are appealing for most current EV drivers without off-street parking, as well as non-EV drivers with compatible routines.

To make this happen, power suppliers, developers and charging hub operators must work collaboratively to identify the best locations to site charge hubs that suit drivers’ needs. These partnerships will also need to include due consideration regarding local grid capacity and any potential constraints, or even opportunities, that may exist. This type of joint coordination is essential if we’re to accelerate the expansion of the UK’s charging network and infrastructure.

Underlining this approach, SSE Energy Solutions has plans to build 300 EV charging hubs powered by traceable, renewable energy across the UK by 2027 and is engaged with a range of private and public sector partners.

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles is an exciting prospect and an essential step towards net zero. Readying the grid for the evolving needs of EVs provides huge opportunities for public-private collaboration as well as new and emerging technologies – all of which fundamentally make it easier for people to transition to EV ownership. Partnerships are set to play a pivotal role at the core of this transition; accelerating the design and construction of reliable, convenient charge hubs and helping to ensure that the grid is not only up to the task for today’s needs but future-proofed for the journey ahead.