Shell and Alfen have launched a pilot to trial an on-site battery-powered system to support electric vehicle (EV) charging at Shell’s Zaltbommel forecourt in the Netherlands.
Shell said the battery-powered system offers an alternative solution to costly and time-consuming public grid upgrades by storing electricity in an on-site battery. This increased supply of energy helps power ultra-fast chargers, allowing drivers to simultaneously use the site’s two 175kW charge points.
Connected to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), the system provides additional benefits as it can use the spare capacity of the battery to sell electricity back to the grid at peak demand moments. This generates revenue for the site – and helps provide stability to the electricity grid.
The pilot combines Alfen’s battery with Shell’s EV charging expertise, including software management from Shell-owned NewMotion and Greenlots, to enable fast charging at grid-constrained locations where it would otherwise be impossible. It is also a sustainable solution – using stored energy helps maximise the use of renewable electricity.
Shell said it aims to grow its global EV network to around 500,000 charge points by 2025 as part its strategy to accelerate its transformation into a provider of net-zero emissions energy products and services, powered by growth in its customer-facing businesses.
“By supporting the introduction of additional ultra-fast charging points this solution can help meet customers’ charging needs at grid constrained locations, both at Shell owned retail stations and also at our customers’ premises,” said Roger Hunter, vice president Electric Mobility at Shell.
“As a supplier of transformer substations and smart grid connection services for the Shell Recharge ultra-fast charging locations throughout the Netherlands, we are expanding that work with energy storage,” Andreas Plenk, business unit director Energy Storage Solutions at Alfen said.