PVing CHARGE Project

The electric vehicle charging solution integrated into a canopy

Concept

PVing CHARGE is a Circutor concept that employs a solar canopy with battery support and uses 100% of the solar energy generated, ensuring it can be fully used for on-the-go charging at any time of day thanks to the flexible and adaptable storage provided by lithium batteries. This installation does not affect the power needs of each customer and even makes the demand on the grid more flexible.

By making the most of the space available in the car park, it is possible to install these PVing CHARGE photovoltaic canopies. This solution uses its own structure to generate solar photovoltaic energy during the day, reducing the electricity drawn from the grid, and thus the monthly invoice.

If we closely analyze the charging needs of vehicles, both private and those belonging to company fleets, and consider that many of these private vehicles are parked for an average of 8 hours at company facilities or nearby, it becomes clear why setting up charging points in the workplace is both important and feasible. This environment includes not only the company’s own facilities, but also the parking areas of the numerous business parks scattered across the region.

Installing charging points in these strategic locations could offer numerous advantages. On one hand, it would provide employees the convenience of charging their vehicles while they work, thus optimizing their time and reducing the need to search for charging stations outside working hours. On the other hand, it would allow companies to manage their fleets more efficiently, ensuring that vehicles are always ready for use without having to make a detour to charge.

In recent years, regulations have been shifting the revenue of the electrical system towards payment for contracted power. As a result, most buildings have optimized their energy contracts to reduce their costs as much as possible, which has often led to the released power being allocated to new consumers. This situation has left some industrial parks and office areas with little to no margin to expand their contracted power, which is necessary to meet the new demand created by electric vehicle charging in the workplace.

1. Restore the charge status of the accumulator: Use photovoltaic energy to recharge the batteries, ensuring they are always ready for use. This energy storage, ready to be used when the sun is not out, is one of the key factors in reducing dependence on the electrical grid and saving on the electricity bill.
2. Support for consumption by reducing power peaks: The energy generated by the PVing CHARGE canopy helps reduce power consumption peaks, thus preventing high readings and any potential extra costs associated with them.
3. Reduced grid consumption during high tariff hours: During periods when electricity tariffs are high, the system uses photovoltaic energy to reduce the amount of energy drawn from the grid, thus minimizing costs.
4. Increased consumption during low-tariff periods: When electricity tariffs are low, the system allows energy to be stored for use during peak periods, enabling direct consumption from the grid, thereby taking advantage of the lower energy cost.

This way, the system is not just intended for charging electric vehicles, it also optimizes the use of the energy generated, ensuring efficient and cost-effective electricity management based on the specific needs of the moment.

The photovoltaic canopy, which covers 10 parking spaces and a shading area of 125 m² for the path used by employees to access the company building, is equipped with 132 bifacial monocrystalline cells, each with a power rating of 425 Wp, totaling 56.1 kWp. It serves as the central element of the project, making it possible to generate up to 350 kWh on days with full radiation, like the ones we have in spring.

The double-glass encapsulated module technology not only provides greater mechanical strength and durability, but also offers an aesthetically pleasing design due to the play of sunlight that passes through them and changes throughout the day.

The solar production is injected into the internal network of the industrial premises through a 50 kW multi-string inverter in an electrical panel, which also serves as the starting point for the three-phase wiring that powers the electric vehicle charging points integrated into the structure, which, thanks to its original design, also functions as a conduit and protection for all the wiring.

Power management

The DLM can be used to share the charging power available based on how many vehicles are charging simultaneously.

It is a solution for managing energy in a charging infrastructure. It allows customizing how power is distributed, and it dynamically manages the remaining power. It effectively manages both AC and DC chargers.

The Power Studio SCADA application and the algorithms of the EMS (Energy Management System) are responsible for monitoring and managing the different energy scenarios, both on weekdays and holidays, ensuring that this new charging infrastructure does not place additional strain on an electrical system that was already at the limit of its contracted power.

Conclusions

PVing CHARGE is a comprehensive and adaptable solution that promotes sustainability and energy efficiency, enhancing how electric vehicle charging is managed while lowering costs and emissions.