Hitachi Energy and Denmark’s Clever partner on EVs, renewables, and storage

A new partnership aims to ensure that Denmark is able to power its electric vehicles (EVs) with 100% renewable electricity 24/7 and to leverage EVs and battery storage to expand renewables’ use for grid stability.

In 2020, the Danish government announced a plan to have 775,000 EVs or hybrid vehicles on its roads by 2030. The partnership between Hitachi Energy and fast-charge EV operator Clever aims to ensure that renewable energy is used to power the country’s EVs.

Hitachi Energy will provide its large-scale e-mesh PowerStore battery energy storage system for a fast-charging EV station pilot that Clever will launch in Køge in early 2022.

The battery storage will enable the two companies to unlock the full potential of renewable and flexible energy for smart mobility and carbon neutrality.

Battery storage will maximize the use of wind and solar energy to accelerate the electrification of the transportation sector and to provide ancillary services for grid resilience during peak periods, according to the statement.

The e-mesh will be used to control, optimize, and coordinate the vehicle charging process to avoid stressing the energy system, as well as to improve the consumer experience.

Massimo Danieli, executive vice president and managing director of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Automation business unit, said the project “shows what is possible when we combine core technologies and elements of the energy transition together: renewable generation, electrification, and energy storage.”

Some 8 EV charging stations to be deployed as part of the pilot will be able to simultaneously charge 16 electric cars.

The success of the pilot will pave way for the development of an additional 10,000 new, public charging points by Clever by 2025.

Today, Clever has 2,500 open, public charging points across Denmark.

The aim of the project is to make EV charging easy and accessible.