First Bus has announced a trial that will see its electric bus depots aid in the balancing of the UK’s electricity system by adjusting when vehicles charge, reducing wasted renewable energy.
The trial, which has now begun at the First Bus depot in Glasgow, is set to extend to the Great Yarmouth depot in Norfolk later this Spring.
This initiative marks the first time a UK bus operator has enrolled electric depots into the National Grid balancing mechanism, which aims to balance electricity supply and demand before electricity delivery.
First Bus has stated that it will begin charging its buses on a more flexible schedule, increasing demand when there is excess renewable energy on the system, reducing demand during peak periods, helping to avoid the need to curtail renewable generation and supporting a more efficient energy network as a whole.
Whilst Scotland generates significant volumes of wind energy, existing limitations in grid capacity mean that some power cannot be transmitted to where demand is highest, resulting in renewable energy being curtailed. By increasing demand at key times, First Bus believes that bus depots can help absorb this excess energy.
The trial is being carried out in partnership with Optimo Energy, whose platform aims to enable operators to optimise charging in response to real-time grid signals while ensuring vehicles remain ready for service.
Isabel McAllister, Chief Sustainability Officer for First Bus, said:Electric buses are already transforming public transport, but this trial shows that they have the ability to go even further: playing an active role in the UK’s energy system.
We’ve built significant electric capacity across our depots, and the next step is using it more intelligently. By charging when the grid needs us to, we can help reduce wasted renewable energy, support system stability and improve the overall economics of electrification.
With more than 1,400 zero-emission vehicles in service; First Bus is already one of the UK’s largest operators of electric buses. The company has committed to operating a fully zero-emission commercial bus fleet by 2035, and has stated it will continue to invest significantly in electrification, including the development of 20 electric depots across the UK – with several more due to be completed by 2027.
First Bus has also opened up its depot-based charging infrastructure to third-parties via its First Charge service, which allows outside users to utilise the company’s existing charging system across a number of sites.
Daniel Homoki-Farkas, CEO & co-founder of Optimo, said:Electric fleets like First Bus’s represent a significant opportunity to support the UK’s transition to a more flexible energy system.
By intelligently managing when vehicles charge, operators can respond to real-time grid needs, helping to reduce renewable energy curtailment, lower system costs and unlock new value from existing infrastructure.
This trial is an important step in demonstrating how transport and energy can work more closely together
The trial will also aim to explore the ways in which depots can participate in additional energy flexibility markets, potentially creating new revenue streams while supporting the wider transition to net zero.
