EV Intelligent Charging | Northern Ireland Electricity Networks

What’s the project about?

NIE Networks’ forecasts suggest that by 2030 there will be in the region of 300,000 electric vehicles (EVs) registered in Northern Ireland. It is expected that 80% of these EVs will likely be charged primarily at home. This increase in demand combined with an increase in the electrification of heat and industry is expected to add significant stress to the distribution network.

One avenue to relieve this increase in demand is the concept of intelligent charging; the concept of altering the charging profile of EVs to optimise available electricity network capacity whilst minimising the impact on EV drivers. This can in turn lead to the deferral of costly network reinforcement.

The NI Intelligent Electric Vehicle (NIEV) project has been initiated to explore intelligent charging and to demonstrate its application in Northern Ireland. The project is seeking to recruit 100-200 participants who regularly charge EVs at their home to take part in a 20-month trial, planned to commence in Summer 2024.

Objectives

Understand the effects of domestic EV charging on Northern Ireland’s distribution network.
Design and implement a system to facilitate EV intelligent charging.
Evaluate the impact of intelligent charging on customer lifestyle.
Consideration of whole system operation and how intelligent charging can co-ordinate with multiple stakeholders such as the Transmission System Operator (TSO) and energy suppliers.
Develop planning and operational techniques so that intelligent EV charging techniques can be co-ordinated with established flexibility techniques.

Progress

Consultants appointed to support the project team.
Initial stakeholder engagements completed with various parties such as energy suppliers, TSO and EV owners’ groups.
High level trial design completed.
All available tenders closed to new interest.
Seeking expressions of interest from EV drivers

Frequently Asked Questions

I am interested in working with NIE Networks on this project, how do I find out more about open opportunities?

Unfortunately all current opportunities related to this project are now closed. Open tender opportunities can be found on eSourcing NI.
I am an EV driver and am interested in getting involved with this project, how do I go about that?

We are currently inviting expressions of interest for this trial. The form is available using the link below.
Express Your Interest
I am an EV driver, what do I need to participate in this trial?

We would ask that you have access to a driveway and an EV for the entirety of the 20-month trial. In addition, we can only consider expressions of interest from those who already have a chargepoint installed at their property. Should your existing chargepoint not be suitable for our trial, we will upgrade your chargepoint free of charge.