NORTHERN POWERGRID and NISSAN signs MOU to explore innovation projects
Northern Powergrid and Nissan have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) according to which they will work together to explore a range of innovation projects over the next six years.
The projects will look at how electric vehicles (EV), batteries and other technologies can support energy networks. They will also explore how new technologies can enhance the capacity, capability and resilience of the region’s power network to make it more active and responsive to the growing and changing demands of both domestic and commercial customers.
The partnership also represents another step forward for Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility blueprint in Europe, which aims to demonstrate how electric vehicles like the Nissan LEAF – the world’s best-selling EV – can work in tandem with energy providers and grid infrastructure to deliver a cleaner, more efficient energy networks.
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology allows electric vehicles to be fully integrated into the electricity grid, improving network capacity and helping to make renewable energy sources more affordable and more widely available. It also provides an opportunity to create mobile energy hubs, by integrating large numbers of electric vehicles directly with the grid. This enables Nissan LEAF owners to connect and charge their vehicle during low-demand, cheap tariff periods, and use the electricity stored in the vehicle’s battery at a time when costs are higher, or even feed it back to the grid to generate additional returns.
Northern Powergrid policy and markets director, Patrick Erwin said that they are both major employers in the region. By bringing together their expertise they will help the region – as part of the Northern Powerhouse – play a leading role in exploring innovation and technological advances that could potentially benefit future generations, communities, businesses and industries both in and outside of the UK.
Nissan Motor EV manager, Ed Jones said that they have always known that Nissan’s EV technology can be used for so much more than just getting people from A-to-B and we’re delighted to be sharing their expertise to help create more sustainable energy networks in the UK. Through the integration of Nissan EVs, they can find new solutions that will help shape a society whose energy use is sustainable, efficient and affordable.
Image Source: Patrick Erwin, policy and markets director at Northern Powergrid, with the 100% electric Nissan LEAF (Source: National Powergrid)