Study provides a playbook to address potential
capacity challenges ahead of widespread adoption of electric
medium- and heavy-duty vehicles
WALTHAM,
Mass., Sept. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new
study by National Grid and Hitachi Energy emphasizes the need for
proactive planning and strategic investment to ensure the grid is
primed for electrification of medium and heavy-duty vehicles
(MHDVs) like buses, trucks, and vans.
The study, "The Road to Transportation Decarbonization: Readying
the Grid for Electric Fleets," builds on a 2021 collaborative study
conducted by the two companies. This latest study provides insight
into what is needed from utilities and external stakeholders,
including state and local government, businesses, and communities,
as electrification of fleet vehicles ramps up in the coming
years.
While the 2021 study evaluated total electric load growth
associated with the electrification of over 50 fleets in one city
in National Grid's service area in the Northeast, this study
provides a zoomed-in view of electrification's impacts on a
specific community. "Readying the Grid for Electric Fleets" puts
readers in the shoes of a utility planner seeking to accommodate
charging growth from over 400 electric trucks on one lightly
utilized distribution line.
By focusing on this case study line, or feeder, the analysis
from National Grid and Hitachi Energy provides valuable snapshots
of how the phased introduction of electric vehicles will impact
grid infrastructure over time. The study reveals that when just 10
percent of current MHDVs electrify, peak electric demand on the
case study feeder will nearly double. When one third of MHDVs
electrify, the line will exceed its rating and utility solutions
will be required to enable further electrification.
The study demonstrates how three different infrastructure
strategies – electric network reconfiguration, multi-value grid
infrastructure upgrades, and non-wires solutions – can meet the
identified needs. The case study feeder is what the study
identifies as an "Area of Capacity" since it has more headroom than
75% of the distribution lines in National Grid's territory. It can
accommodate substantial MHDV charging load without major upgrades.
Other "Areas of Need" will have grid headroom constraints or
contingency requirements, and the three grid infrastructure
strategies allow readers to apply study insights to these
areas.
"Since we formed our partnership and released our first study
together, the pace of fleet electrification has only accelerated,"
said Reihaneh Irani-Famili, Vice President of Clean Energy
Development at National Grid New England. "As the grid is called
upon to power transit agencies, school buses, and local businesses,
we will be in a race to ensure we have a smarter, stronger, cleaner
grid and infrastructure so that we can be ready ahead of need. This
case study further demonstrates how an optimized, proactive
approach to infrastructure planning can help us accelerate early
adoption and pave the road for continued MHDV electrification,
which will benefit communities and commerce and protect our shared
climate."
"This new study provides valuable, actionable insights that can
help to guide planning for utilities and transportation companies
alike," said Anthony Allard,
Executive VP and Head of North
America, Hitachi Energy. "Smarter planning and investments
today, guided by close collaboration across the EV ecosystem, will
help us avoid painful capacity challenges down the road. This work
can provide a roadmap for smoother electric MHDV
adoption."
The study indicates that, to maximize efficiency and reduce
costs, utilities should consider each location's near and long-term
needs and existing capacity on the grid. In doing so, utilities can
support early electrification in Areas of Capacity with minimal
cost while targeting investment to Areas of Need, ensuring no
community is left behind.
The study calls for a coordinated response including utilities,
regulators, businesses, communities, and others to meet the
forthcoming challenges. The study suggests that regulatory and
planning structures must evolve to accommodate MHDV
electrification, and new partnerships must arise to support the
electrification journey.
National Grid recently submitted a Future Grid plan in
Massachusetts to implement wide
scale upgrades in the state that would improve network
infrastructure, implement new technology and platforms, and install
new customer programs to provide more customer choice and control.
The Future Grid plan is intended to upgrade the grid to enable,
among other benefits, the ability to charge 1.1 million EVs by
2030. In New York, National Grid
is active in a new regulatory proceeding established to address the
grid demands of MHDV charging. In both states, National Grid
supports its customers in installing EV charging through make-ready
incentives, fleet assessments, and rate options.
About National Grid
National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and
clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people
through our networks in New York
and Massachusetts. National Grid
is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future —
transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy
solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
For more information, please visit our website, follow us
on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, like us
on Facebook and find us on Instagram.
About Hitachi Energy
Hitachi Energy is a global
technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for
all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure
sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value
chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer
technologies and enable the digital transformation required to
accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future.
We are advancing the world's energy system to become more
sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social,
environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track
record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries.
Headquartered in Switzerland, we
employ around 40,000 people in 90 countries and generate business
volumes of over $10 billion
USD.
https://www.hitachienergy.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachienergy
https://twitter.com/HitachiEnergy
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SOURCE National Grid