Drive is on to green future

Call to use electric cars to boost grid

ELECTRIC cars could soon be used to ensure the National Grid is never short of green energy, according to an expert.

The greatest criticism of renewable energy is that none is generated if, for example, there is no wind or sun.

But Paul Reynolds will speak at Scottish Renewables’ conference in Glasgow Caledonian University tomorrow about how the vehicles could be used to store energy when married to a “smart” electricity system, which can be drawn on when needed.

The analyst with Fife firm Everoze sees the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) as “batteries on wheels”.

He said: “Renewable energy sources like wind and solar provide power when the weather is right.

“Although we can now forecast those times far more accurately than ever before, there are instances when there is not enough generation from renewable sources to meet demand.

“EVs which are plugged into the grid to charge can, with the right technology in place, be called upon at those times and discharge some of the energy in their batteries back on to the system, balancing supply and demand.”

Everoze estimate that a car plugged in for 65 per cent of the time with a state-of-the-art, two-way charger could earn £500 a year under this system.

Paul added: “At the moment, we rely to some extent on old fossil fuel plants to provide that balancing service but if enough EVs were connected, we could start to close down those plants.

“We would be in a position to call on the electricity produced by renewables whenever we wanted.”