Virtual power plant to test if electric vehicle batteries can deliver frequency reserve

By David Pratt
September 13, 2018
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
Image: Getty.

Virtual power plant (VPP) operator Next Kraftwerke and electric vehicle (EV) aggregator and smart charging platform provider Jedlix has launched a trial to test if EV batteries can be used to provide automatic frequency reserve.

The international pilot to deliver secondary control reserve, also known as automatic frequency restoration reserve (aFRR), is being run through TenneT, the transmission system operator for the Netherlands and a large part of Germany.

The two-year project will begin in early 2019 when the pair will provide aFRR through Jedlix’s EV fleet and smart charging solution, while Next Kraftwerke will provide the interface to TenneT and market the aggregated energy in reserve control auctions.

By linking the fleet to Next Kraftwerke’s remote control unit, Next Box, real-time data exchange will be possible while ‘setpoints’ can be received by the Jedlix fleet that changes the EVs’ power consumption.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Ruben Benders, chief executive of Jedlix, said: “We are thrilled to have this cooperation with Next Kraftwerke, which has the potential to establish the largest VPP for EVs in Europe and beyond.”

During the trial, Jedlix will be able to combine the user preferences, car data, and charging station information of those taking part for a continuous forecast of the available capacity which will be used by Next Kraftwerke in the bidding process.

By taking part in the pilot, all EV drivers can get rewarded for making the car’s flexibility available.

Paul Kreutzkamp, chief executive of Next Kraftwerke Belgium, said: “This pilot will bring essential innovation in the way electrical systems connected in private homes can contribute to TenneT’s most demanding ancillary services.

“We are very happy to be starting this transition and bringing new sources of income to households together with Jedlix, which has set itself apart when it comes to smart charging of electric vehicles.”

15 September 2026
San Diego, USA
You can expect to meet and network with all the key industry players again in 2025 from major US asset owners, operators, RTOs and ISOs, optimizers, software and analytics providers, technical consultancies, O&M technology providers and more.
15 September 2026
Berlin, Germany
Launching September 2026 in Berlin, Energy Storage Summit Germany is a new standalone event dedicated to Germany’s energy storage market. Bringing together investors, developers, policymakers, TSOs, manufacturers and optimisation specialists, the Summit explores the regulatory shifts, revenue models, financing strategies and technology innovations shaping large-scale deployment. With Germany targeting 80% renewables by 2030, it offers a focused platform to connect with the decision-makers driving the Energiewende and the future of utility-scale storage.

Read Next

May 1, 2026
Large-scale BESS projects have been progressed to construction, financing or operations across the EU this week, by project owners, investors and EPC firms re:cap, LONGi, Teos, Flower, Goldbeck Solar, SPP and Tavion.
May 1, 2026
Australia, India, Japan, and the Philippines are driving a transformation in the APAC batteryenergy storage market, says Trina Storage.
April 29, 2026
Spanish IPP Sonnedix has signed three power purchase agreements (PPAs) for its 117MW/643.8MWh Sonnedix Librillo battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Chile.
April 28, 2026
Utility DTE Energy has said it will forego customer rate increases for two years dependent on the success of a US$16 billion data centre campus involving a battery energy storage system (BESS).
April 28, 2026
ARENA is supporting two First Nations-led microgrid projects in the Northern Territory (NT) with AU$11 million in funding.