Finalist

SDG Initiative of the Year Award

100% Renewable Vehicle to Grid (V2G) Initiative

Finalist of the SDG Initiative of the Year Award

Flinders University - Australia

"Driving towards tomorrow's campus with vehicle-to-grid EV technology "


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Summary

Flinders University's Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) initiative involves installing and maintaining 20x V2G chargers for its growing electric vehicle fleet. The initiative leverages 100% renewable energy generated by ENGIE's Willogoleche Wind Farm and Flinders University’s own solar power systems, and the stored energy in EV batteries is discharged into the campus during peak demand periods. This initiative supports SDGs 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 13 – Climate Action, and 17 – Partnerships, by demonstrating the reliability and scalability of bi-directional smart-charging systems for EVs, reducing emissions, optimizing behind-the-meter generation, and creating teaching, research, and innovation opportunities.

The initiative demonstrates the commercial potential of aggregating and utilizing EVs as a source of distributed energy, and the university's EV fleet will also operate as a virtual power plant to deliver peak demand management and optimization of behind-the-meter generation. The initiative incorporates dynamic digital signage and creates research and teaching opportunities on campus.

Overall, the initiative demonstrates a sustainable and innovative solution to scale energy storage technology, increase renewables, and reduce GHG emissions. The project delivery team were members of the property, facilities and development department, within the corporate services at Flinders University.

Key People


Mark Gregory
Vice President, Corporate Service and Chief Operating Officer
Professional Services ,  Flinders University



William Van Ausdal
Principal Sustainability Strategist
Property, Facilities and Development,  Flinders University



Patrick Burley
Principal Project Manager
Property, Facilities and Development,  Flinders University



Hildie Auret
University Secretary
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,  Flinders University



Dr. Shane Jennings
Director Property, Facilities and Development
Property, Facilities and Development,  Flinders University



Greg Schumann
Director, Transport & Green Mobility
ENGIE Net Zero Energy Solutions,  Engie



Dan Gillick
Senior Project Engineer
Net Zero Energy Solutions,  Engie


Acknowledgements

Flinders University collaborated with ENGIE Group, the South Australian Government Department for Energy and Mining, and Wallbox (Spain), SAPN (AUS), ACS (AUS), Sunverge (US), Nissan (Japan), and Jet Charge (Australia), and even a staff member who donated their vehicle for trials ahead of the arrival of fleet vehicles.

Images

Bedford Park Campus, Adelaide, South Australia – On-site Solar Carpark and Roof Installations

V2G Chargers in-Use

Willogoleche Wind Farm, South Australia – Engie

Regulatory and technical witnessing for approval

Vice Chancellor Colin Stirling with Electric Security Vehicle

IMPACT STORY

Impacting lifes

At Flinders University, we are committed to making a positive impact on the environment. We know that electric vehicles (EVs) are part of our future, but we are taking it a step further with the idea of bi-directional smart-charging systems for EVs.

We are determined to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of this technology to enable future energy storage from all vehicles on a global scale. After a lot of hard work, our initiative has received regulatory approval, and it is now a game-changer in the world of energy storage. Our EV fleet can now operate as a virtual power plant, delivering peak demand management and optimization of behind-the-meter generation. We are proud to say that we are helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the grid itself and harness the power of renewable energy.

But it's not just about the energy. We have incorporated dynamic digital signage to communicate how the technology works to users. We believe that our initiative is paving the way for future projects, such as the electrification of campus infrastructure and the extension of the concept to V2G EV buses and pushing the global vehicle industry to embrace and provide both CHAdeMO and CCS technology. We are at the forefront of the green energy revolution, and we are showing the world what's possible when people come together with a shared vision for a better future.

LEARNINGS

Lessons learned

Undertaking an initiative like the V2G trial requires hard work, collaboration, perseverance, and innovation, some key learnings and leadership advice that we can offer to those who are considering a similar path are to:

-Be prepared for the unexpected: Developing a contract for unknown and unproven technology was a challenging task, and we had to be ready for unexpected hurdles. It's important to be flexible and adapt to changes as they arise.

-Collaborate: The success of our initiative was due to the collaborative efforts of many different parties, including the university, the EV manufacturers, the regulatory bodies, and the network providers.

-Take the time to test: Testing functionality ahead of regulatory approval was crucial to ensuring that our initiative was safe and effective. Taking the time to test and refine your ideas can save you time and money in the long run.

-Persistence is key: We faced delays due to supply chain constraints and regulatory requirements, but we never gave up. We renegotiated agreements and found solutions to overcome these obstacles.

-Communication is essential: Ongoing user questions on why and how the technology can only be used with certain vehicles highlight the importance of clear and effective communication. It's essential to communicate the benefits and limitations of your initiative to stakeholders and users.

-Embrace innovation: Undertaking an initiative like ours requires embracing innovation and taking risks. Be open to new ideas and technologies, and don't be afraid to challenge the status quo.

FUTURE PLANS

What's coming?

Flinders University's future includes commissioning 10x remaining chargers as CCS chargers become available, expanding the initiative's scope and impact. Scaling to other functional operations such as campus buses and sharing learning with others are also on the horizon. The university also plans to maintain adaptable chargers that evolve with technology, improve digital signage to communicate user requirements, and fully electrify our fleet, including heavier vehicles, to support our Climate Positive and net-negative emissions ambitions.

Furthermore, the university aims to extend the concept to campus infrastructure, and the electrification of both transport and campus infrastructure. We also plan to support further research and teaching opportunities on campus by sharing data collected from the initiative.

Flinders University intends to lead by example and inspire others to follow in their footsteps, as we continue to push the boundaries of sustainable transport and energy initiatives.

KEY STATISTICS

100%

Campus and V2G initiative fully renewable electricity

20

V2G chargers

5-9pm

Time renewables are fed back into the grid

10

Major Partners

Up to 1.2MW

Renewable energy storage

2.2MW

Onsite solar

119 MW

Offsite Wind Farm (not completely allocated to Flinders University)

Triple E Awards

The Triple E Awards are a global recognition of efforts toward the quest for entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education. It is the first award to focus specifically on different dimensions of the universities' third mission. Implemented regionally, the Triple E Awards aim to foster change in universities and to emphasize their role in their communities and ecosystems.

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