First Bus has announced an expansion of the use of its new technology designed to better manage electric vehicle charging across its Caledonia depot in Glasgow.
The announcement follows a successful initial trial after which the project, delivered in partnership with energy management specialist company Optimo Energy, has seen the project scale from an initial 34 to 172 charging outlets across the Caledonia depot.
Earlier this year, First Bus became the first UK bus operator to enrol an electric depot into the National Grid’s balancing mechanism, which aims to help balance electricity supply and demand before delivery. This new Optimo expansion will enable First Bus to ensure it is making the best possible use of its on-site energy whilst also selling surplus energy back into the grid.
Designed to demonstrate that charging demand could be managed without compromising the operational requirement of having buses charged and ready for use service use, the initial trial’s performance allowed First Bus to extend the technology across the entire Caledonia depot, which boasts a potential 12MW charging load operating within a 5MW grid connection.
Optimo’s platform aims to combine energy management, fleet requirements and energy market optimisation to forecast how much energy vehicles need, as well as dynamically manage when they charge. Once buses’ operational requirements are secured, flexibility in the remaining charging demand is then used to respond to energy prices and grid requirements, allowing First Bus to increase charging at times when there is excess renewable energy available, particularly wind power in Scotland, and reduce demand during peak periods.
First Bus will also be able to access energy flexibility markets, which may allow for the realisation of a potential new revenue stream from its existing depot infrastructure.
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.
