Shell and the Dutch company Alfen are going to test with an energy storage system between the electricity grid and charging stations. Fast charging of cars, but also the supply of electricity at peak times, must be possible.
Alfen, a company that specializes in charging solutions, has developed an energy storage system to which fast chargers for cars can be connected, but which can also supply power. A kind of buffer between charging stations and the grid. Shell wants to test this system with its fast charging points at a petrol station in Zaltbommel. The storage has a capacity of 350 kWh and can power two charging stations at the same time. Charging can then be done with a power of up to 175 kW.
The charge of the energy storage is maintained from the grid, but as mentioned, it can also work the other way. If more power is needed on the grid, the storage can supply power back. Obviously, this should increase the stability of the power grid. Another advantage would be that this system makes it possible to place fast chargers in more places. The existing infrastructure cannot handle the peaks of fast chargers everywhere, this system can respond to them. This is a first test, which may be applied on a larger scale by Shell and Alfen afterwards.