Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies allow Electric Vehicles (EVs) to not only charge from the grid but also supply power back to the network.

The Storage and Flexibility: Vehicle to Grid report explores the potential value of V2G technologies in a Net Zero energy system.

This analysis used our Consumers, Vehicles and Energy Integration model to compare three EV charging scenarios under a Net Zero energy system pathway: V2G, unmanaged charging and managed charging. For each scenario the role of flexible generation, grid-connected electricity storage, V2G storage and intermittent energy generation were compared.

This report is part of the Innovating to Net Zero programme. Energy Systems Catapult has carried out a number of deep dives into the technologies potentially needed to achieve the UK government’s 2050 net zero emissions targets – such as nuclear, digitalisation and storage and flexibility.

Key points

The key findings from Storage and Flexibility: Vehicle to Grid analysis are:

• V2G could provide significant value to a Net Zero energy system; providing over 50GWh of flexible capacity by 2050.
• V2G is most favourable when compared to unmanaged charging of EVs; it can reduce the need for grid-connected electrical storage capacity.
• The value of V2G is less certain when compared to the benefits of managed charging although V2G does appear to provide additional value by reducing the requirement for grid connected energy storage technologies. This should be investigated further with consideration also given to the other value that V2G could provide over shorter timescales not represented within this modelling.