Innovative V2G Virtual Power Plant Deployed by Sunverge and ENGIE Begins Operations in Australia
Sunverge, a leading provider of distributed energy resource (DER) control, orchestration, and aggregation platform, is pleased to announce the operational status of the V2G virtual power plant (VPP) located at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. This significant milestone marks the launch of one of the most sophisticated commercial applications of aggregated and managed bi-directional EV charging yet seen. The project is an integral part of the university’s business fleet electrification, microgrid operations, and participation in the wholesale market. It underscores the university’s commitment to embracing innovative, sustainable energy solutions and sets a benchmark for similar institutions.
“We’re proud of the work we’ve done with ENGIE and Flinders University on this groundbreaking V2G project,” said Martin Milani, CEO of Sunverge. “Bi-directional EV charging is very new, and very few companies have mature products in the market today that can optimize against the multiple dynamic constraints on both sides of the meter. Such products are needed to effectively perform aggregated and orchestrated grid-aware bi-directional charging with a fleet of EVs. As the EV market rapidly matures, V2G services will give fleet operators new ways to save on charging costs, monetize their electric vehicle fleets, and provide grid operators with flexible and mobile assets to support a more flexible, reliable, and sustainable electric grid.”
“We’re pleased to partner with Flinders University and Sunverge to deliver this innovative project,” said Greg Schumann, Director of Green Mobility, ENGIE Australia & New Zealand. “By showing this V2G VPP’s flexibility and reliability, we can provide fleet and grid operators with tangible examples on how to transition to more sustainable forms of transportation.”
The Sunverge platform is taking the reins in managing the operations of the EV fleet. It incorporates each vehicle’s driving constraints and ensures that there’s enough operational charge available for daily driving while optimizing multiple V2G value streams. These streams include wholesale market price arbitrage, peak demand management, and the optimization of behind-the-meter generation and demand. The Sunverge platform accomplishes such feats using a sophisticated, distributed, and constraint-based stochastic algorithm. This algorithm continually optimizes against fluctuating market prices, staying within the bounds of multiple dynamic constraints. Such constraints include EV availability, desired state-of-charge levels, and distribution and local grid network constraints. This strategic use of technology demonstrates the potential of energy optimization within the scope of renewable resources.
“There has been a great deal of buzz around vehicle-to-grid VPPs, but very few operational projects that provide meaningful multi-service capabilities with a variety of grid services beyond just time-of-day managed charging and simple demand response. This project demonstrates the immense potential of utilizing the growing fleet of electric vehicles to provide system flexibility and critical T&D grid services,” Milani added. “This project also reveals valuable insights as Sunverge continues to lead the development of a true bi-directional V2G market in combination with PV generation and stationary storage. Sunverge is thereby demonstrating how to efficiently achieve a fully decarbonized & decentralized, highly flexible grid.”
