Electric cars are being used to balance demand on the grid for the first time in a trial with Octopus Energy customers.

This trial explores the role that EVs could play in providing flexibility in the future energy system

Led by National Grid ESO, the electricity system operator for Britain, the ‘Intelligent Octopus’ smart tariff will use batteries in electric vehicles to balance the grid while they’re charging, via the Power Responsive programme.

This trial will explore the role that smaller-scale assets, in particular EVs, could have in providing flexibility in the future energy system via the Balancing Mechanism – a continuous market in which power is traded to balance the grid in real time.

The initiative will develop a better understanding of how these new types of energy resources can be integrated into the grid in the future.

The Balancing Mechanism is transitioning away from historical reliance on gas power stations and the initiative explores the potential for batteries in cars on driveways to keep the grid balanced – which is a crucial milestone in enabling a net zero power system.

The technology automatically adjusts the charging schedule of the car in response to the ESO requests for more or less power. Kraken, Octopus’s tech platform, will connect to Octopus customer EVs and continually manage their response depending on changing grid needs. Customer charging targets will still be met.

‘Intelligent Octopus’ is a 100% smart flexible car charging tariff  that provides cheap, clean electricity for 7.5p per kWh (2p per mile) when it is best for the grid.

Alex Schoch, head of flexibility at Octopus Energy Group, said: “EV drivers on our ‘Intelligent Octopus’ tariff now form the UK’s biggest virtual battery – and for the first time ever EVs have entered the Balancing Mechanism. Whilst we sleep, EV drivers are driving down grid balancing costs that are passed on to all customers – saving us all money. This is the ‘smart energy grid’ today – complete radicalisation of the way the system is balanced is here now.”

Claire Dykta, National Grid ESO head of markets, said: “Opening up access to the Balancing Mechanism for electric vehicles and other technologies is an important step for extending consumer flexibility in a net-zero world. This industry-wide trial will provide valuable information to our control room, to help enable the full-time availability of electric vehicles in the Balancing Mechanism in future.”