Vital EV and AWEnergy collaborate for onshore wind
Vital EV Solutions and AWEnergy have collaborated in a strategic partnership to champion the advancement of electric vehicles powered by renewable energy sources.
The project has seen an EV charging station situated near AWGroup’s cutting-edge Checkley Wood onshore wind turbine, with 14 high-speed EV charging points, specified by Vital EV.
It operates at up 1000v with a 900kW total charging capacity currently available and the capability to increase the sites operation to 1.6MW and deliver 300kW of charging power to a single connector.
The charging facility is designed for public use as well as bus and heavy goods vehicle charging, and is located adjacent to the A5 Trunk Road between Dunstable and Milton Keynes.
The 4.1MW onshore wind turbine powers the initiative and commenced generating electricity in January 2024. With 56-meter-long blades, it has a total rotor diameter of 115 metres and the capacity to produce over 10,150,000 kWh annually – enough to facilitate over 225,000 electric vehicle rapid charges per year.
AWEnergy’s direct wire technology will be employed to supply power to the EV station directly from the wind turbine.
Alex Rae, Managing Director of Vital EV Solutions, said: “ When AWEnergy approached us to provide them with a consultative approach to helping them design the solution to satisfy their requirements, we were delighted to work on the project which I believe is a fantastic innovation in the EV charging sector with the direct wire technology from the turbine.
“Vital EV have worked closely with AWEnergy to bring this sustainable EV charging hub online to serve the customers at the Checkley Wood site, and will continue to support the operations onsite with a comprehensive support and maintenance service.”
John Fairlie, the Managing Director of AWRenewables, said: “The introduction of the UK’s inaugural electric vehicle charging station, harnessing on-site wind energy, represents a pivotal moment for both the renewable energy and electric vehicle sectors.
“We have been proud to work with Vital EV throughout the process, and remain grateful for their experience, professionalism and commitment to our vision. This historic investment underscores AWGroup’s unwavering dedication to delivering environmentally friendly, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions that are instrumental in the UK’s journey towards sustainability.”
Image from Vital EV