Electric car batteries could bring cheaper and greener electricity to the county

Researchers at the University of Gävle will map how electricity can be used more efficiently locally - for example, how electric car batteries can contribute as an energy reserve. The new research project receives 8.2 million in support from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and Region Gävleborg.

Gävleborg has good potential to increase electricity production, especially through wind power. At the same time, the region faces challenges in how electricity is used and distributed. A new research project, led by Nicholas Etherden and Ola Eriksson at the University of Gävle, will analyze how electricity production can be used more intelligently and with less environmental impact.

"Using more of the locally produced electricity on site is efficient and can bring great benefits, including attracting new electricity-intensive industry to the region. But this requires increased storage capacity. This is where electric vehicles can play an important role, their batteries have a large storage capacity and 90% of the batteries produced are used in vehicles," says Nicholas Etherden, Senior Lecturer in Energy Systems.

Two tracks: system analysis and environmental impact

The project is divided into two parts. The first is a system analysis of the electricity supply in the region, where the researchers are looking at how batteries in electric cars can be used to support the electricity grid.

- Electric cars are only used a few percent of the time, and their batteries could be connected to the grid and used as energy reserves. "It's not a huge amount of energy, but used properly, they can contribute for shorter periods of time, reducing the load on the grid and giving money back to car owners without affecting the functioning of the cars," says Nicholas Etherden.

The second part of the project is led by Ola Eriksson and focuses on environmental impacts and life cycle assessments of different storage options, including social aspects.

"Social life cycle assessments are about, for example, who gets to share the benefits. We want to compare large-scale solutions with more decentralized ones, where households can have a greater role and share of the revenue," says Ola Eriksson, Professor of Environmental Science.

Twelve companies are participating in the project

The project is fully financed by Tillväxtverket and Region Gävleborg. Twelve companies from the region are participating, including grid companies and electricity producers, and two doctoral students are linked to the work.

The research is expected to bring both environmental benefits and lower electricity costs, while residents with electric cars can be compensated for contributing to the stability of the electricity grid.

"Using existing capacity, including electric vehicle batteries, is a resource-efficient solution. It can create a more resilient energy system while distributing revenues to more people", says Nicholas Etherden.