Veolia operates the largest waste collection fleet in the United Kingdom and aims to fully electrify its 1,800 vehicles in the country by 2040. This achievement will allow the Group to provide the network with nearly 200 MW of flexibility electricity per day, or the equivalent of the energy needs of 150,000 homes during peak consumption in the evening, thus contributing to the country's energy security.
To meet UK electricity demand, which will double by 2050, and to meet national targets for decarbonising the electricity grid by 2035, electric vehicle batteries have a role to play. They can not only recharge from the electricity network, but also send the energy stored in their batteries back to the network thanks to V2G technology. This helps provide energy during periods of high demand, contribute to grid stability by regulating frequency and voltage, and even store excess renewable energy for later use.
Veolia has taken the potential of this solution to a new level by applying it to collection vehicles, which are ideally suited to V2G technology since their batteries are six times larger than those of an average car and the vehicle fleet is usually parked during peak energy consumption times for the national grid.
The first phase of the trial carried out by Veolia was successfully completed, allowing 110 kW of energy to be loaded and unloaded from two bi-directional trucks and enabling the powering of 110 homes for more than two hours during peak evening consumption. Veolia now plans to deploy this system in real conditions during waste collection on the streets of London in the municipality of Westminster.
In addition, to power these vehicles, Veolia will maximise the use of local carbon-free energy from its waste-to-energy plants, creating a perfect circular loop. This will include the Landmann Way vehicle depot in north London, powered by low carbon electricity from the SELCHP plant.
“We must innovate in decarbonising local energy and transform our traditional approaches to take advantage of untapped resources” said Estelle Brachlianoff, general director of Veolia. “This requires a change in mentality and a collective desire to rethink the way we produce, distribute and consume energy. The success of the V2G demonstration illustrates this perfectly. By enabling electric vehicles to become active players in the electricity grid, we harness their potential to balance energy supply and demand, reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy.”
Veolia has partnered with electric vehicle charger manufacturer Turbo Power Systems (TPS), vehicle electrification experts Magnetic Systems Technology (Magtec) and electric vehicle charge point management software provider Fuuse, with support from technology provider Advantics.
Veolia has a long tradition of innovation in developing local decarbonising energy solutions for the benefit of local communities and industries. The Group operates ten waste-to-energy units in the United Kingdom, which process approximately 2.3 million tonnes of non-recyclable waste and transform it into electricity for more than 400,000 homes. This combined production capacity of 180 MWe helps reduce pressure on the busy UK electricity network and avoids the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation. Some of these facilities also produce heat for communities through district heating networks, using generation technology.
“Flexibility is key to strengthening the UK’s energy security and the transition to a more sustainable market” said Gavin Graveson, Executive Vice President of Veolia Northern Europe. “We must adapt to growing demand for energy and adopt smarter energy systems to deliver resilient, reliable, low-carbon energy to our homes and businesses. Flexibility innovations like this can revolutionise the way we manage our energy use and represent a unique opportunity to reduce costs and carbon emissions.”
For additional information:
