Shell and Alfen pilot 350 kWh battery-based charging solution in the Netherlands
Shell and Alfen have installed a 350 kWh battery-based charging solution at a filling station in Zaltbommel, the Netherlands, as part of a pilot project. The system operates with two charging points of 175 kW each and is simultaneously integrated into a virtual power plant for “peak shaving”.
Alfen and Shell are already cooperating on the expansion of the HPC network in the Netherlands. The charging infrastructure specialist is responsible for supplying transformer stations and intelligent grid connection services. The pilot project is now dedicated to testing a battery-based charging system. The mineral oil company says this is “a premiere for Shell.” The 350-kWh storage system is supposed to circumvent the costly upgrade of the public electricity grid, while at the same time the Zaltbommel charging station is investigating the extent to which the charging system can relieve the grid by feeding energy back into it as needed and thus generate revenue.
Shell says that the pilot project combines Alfen’s battery with Shell’s expertise in fast charging, including software management from Shell-owned NewMotion and Greenlots. The charging solution addresses some infrastructure challenges and while the corporation says that this could also serve as a blueprint for its future installation activities.
Just a few weeks ago, the energy giant had presented a strategy to become climate neutral by 2050. Shell says that the number of charging points for electric vehicles is to be increased from 60,000 to 500,000 by 2025. In the Netherlands, a network of 200 charging points of 175 kW each is to be created “in the next few years”, according to an earlier announcement by Alfen.
“By supporting the introduction of additional ultra-fast charging points this solution can help meet customers’ charging needs at grid constrained locations, both at Shell owned retail stations and also at our customers’ premises,” said Roger Hunter, Vice President Electric Mobility at Shell.
Andreas Plenk, Business Unit Director Energy Storage Solutions at Alfen, adds that his company is proud to extend its cooperation with Shell to work with energy storage. “We believe that the integration of energy storage at EV fast-charging stations is important to ensure grid stability while providing EV drivers with an optimal charging experience.”
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