First Bus has expanded the use of new technology designed to better manage electric vehicle charging across its Caledonia depot in Glasgow, following a successful initial trial.
Delivered in partnership with energy management specialist company Optimo Energy, the project has now scaled from 34 to 172 charging outlets across Caledonia.
Earlier this year, First Bus became one of the first UK bus operators to enrol an electric depot in the National Grid balancing mechanism, which helps balance electricity supply and demand shortly before electricity delivery.
The Optimo expansion enables First Bus to ensure it is making the best possible use of its energy across the site, while also continuing to sell surplus energy back into the grid.
The initial trial was designed to demonstrate that charging demand could be managed more intelligently without compromising the fundamental operational requirement of having buses charged and ready for service.
Its commercial and operational performance gave First Bus the confidence to extend the technology across the full depot, it said.
Caledonia has a potential 12MW charging load operating within a 5MW grid connection. Optimo’s platform brings together energy management, fleet requirements and energy market optimisation, forecasting how much energy vehicles need and dynamically managing when they charge.
Once buses’ operational requirements are secured, flexibility in the remaining charging demand can be used to respond to energy prices and grid requirements. This allows First Bus to increase charging at times when there is excess renewable energy available, and reduce demand during peak periods.
It also enables the business to access energy flexibility markets, creating a potential new revenue stream from its existing depot infrastructure, it concluded.
Isabel McAllister, Chief Sustainability Officer at First Bus, said:
“We’ve invested significantly in our electric depot infrastructure, so want to ensure we’re using that infrastructure as intelligently as possible.
“One of the challenges we face is making sure we have enough power to provide a reliable service for customers whilst also continuing to provide surplus energy to the grid. Optimo resolves that challenge for us.”
Daniel Homoki-Farkas, CEO & co-founder of Optimo Energy, said:
“We’re delighted to be expanding our work with First Bus at Caledonia following the success of the initial trial. This next phase is an important opportunity to demonstrate at scale that energy flexibility and the operational demands of a major electric fleet can go hand in hand.
“Working closely with the First Bus team, we’re showing how intelligent management of charging can protect vehicle readiness while unlocking greater value from existing energy and charging infrastructure. We believe this approach has significant potential as electric fleets continue to grow.”
Image courtesy of First Bus
