friendlyCharge

Enabling grid-friendly charging through costumer interface in residential areas

• Contact person: Julia Vopava-Wrienz
• Project duration: 01.03.2023 - 31.01.2026

The development of a forward-looking intelligent charging infrastructure in residential areas plays a key role in the successful transition to e-mobility in order to achieve climate neutrality. To ensure a smooth transition and avoid bottlenecks in the electricity grid, the friendlyCharge project aims to develop and demonstrate an innovative solution for demand-based and grid-friendly charging in residential areas.

As part of the friendlyCharge project, we are focusing on three key aspects:

1. technological concept for grid-friendly charging based on an interface: Development of an innovative technological concept that enables near real-time communication between the power grid and the user. This allows the charging of e-vehicles to be optimally matched to the capacities of the grid. Development of forecast models and algorithms to determine (near) real-time grid capacities.
2. communication security and effects: Analysis of communication security requirements and impact on the communication network.
3. regulatory framework conditions and business models: consideration of regulatory aspects and derivation of recommendations for action to ensure smooth implementation. Development of innovative tariff and business models to support and promote the implementation of innovative charging concepts.

 To achieve its goals, friendlyCharge relies on comprehensive analysis and prototype development, taking into account the aspects mentioned above:

• Use cases: Analysis of various use cases to enable the prototypical implementation of an interface (hardware and/or software solution).
• Reference implementation: Realization of the innovative solution of a demand and grid-friendly charging infrastructure for a use case as part of a demonstrator at grid level 7.
• Sector integration: The project takes into account the intelligent combination of mobility, energy generation, storage and distribution both in the reference implementation and in extensive grid simulations (scaling study)
• Stakeholder involvement: Close cooperation with the working group of Österreichs Energie (OE) and involvement of all other relevant stakeholders.

The following research-relevant core tasks are considered at the Chair of Energy Composite Technology:

1. methodology for determining currently available grid capacities: A step-by-step implementation methodology is being developed, starting with the static and progressing to the fully automatic determination of available grid capacities. Methods for processing forecast and near real-time measurement data are being developed for this purpose. The aim is to create recommendations for action that create the basis for a fully automatic determination of available grid capacities and thus enable demand-oriented and grid-friendly charging.
2. development of forecast models for grid-friendly and demand-oriented charging: Models for forecasting charging demand will be designed to allow users to charge when it is best for them and the grid. These models help to optimize the charging experience.
3. development of future scenarios for large-scale grid analysis: We think big and develop scenarios for analyzing the energy grid on a large scale. In close coordination with our consortium, we conduct workshops to create baseline scenarios as well as scenarios for grid-friendly and demand-driven charging.
4. conducting large-scale grid analyses at LV level: We analyze the energy grid at low-voltage level and determine the impact of your charging decisions. These insights are crucial to ensure the stability and efficiency of the network.
5. Scaling the results to MV level: Our research results will not stop at the low-voltage level. We are developing methods to transfer them to the medium-voltage level in order to ensure comprehensive grid coverage.

Project partners (incl. logo): Montanuniversität Leoben - Chair of Energy Network Technology, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna University of Technology - Institute of Telecommunications, Energie Steiermark AG, E-VO E-Mobility GmbH, Siemens AG

Funding agencies: This project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and is being carried out as part of the "Zero Emission Mobility" program.