Jersey Electricity has announced that it is to install and test four special chargers which can export energy stored in car batteries back to the mains at times of peak demand.
The devices are due to be put in place at La Collette power station and be used on the company’s own vehicles.
Mark Preece, Jersey Electricity operations director, said the technology will enable customers to enjoy a reduction in their costs.
‘Utilising electric batteries this way makes sense when you think that 90% of cars are stationary and parked at any one time, resulting in a lot of energy sitting there doing nothing – and often at times when we are paying premium wholesale prices for it.
‘The technology would also help us manage the intermittency of local renewable generation, which we are increasingly introducing to the grid, rather than providing additional electrical storage or generation.
‘For JE as a power provider, it means less strain on our network, lower maintenance costs and a new lower cost source of power at times when we may be paying higher wholesale prices. It is one of several measures that could help us decarbonise transportation as part of the Island’s desire to go carbon neutral and at the same time avoid a rise in peaks on our network.’
