Study reveals how airport car parks could provide power grid flexibility

UK Power Networks’ Park and Flex study has uncovered how long-stay car parks, such as those at airports, could provide grid flexibility. By charging electric vehicles (EVs) when electricity is cheap, during sunny or windy periods for example, and feeding power back when demand peaks, these parks could help power the grid.

Advanced modeling found this approach could potentially power over 1.3 million UK homes. EVs would charge in long-stay parks like airports during off-peak hours, then inject more than 4.3GW back into the system as needed.

Airports offer particular advantages given clear visibility into vehicle stay durations from flight times. This provides better planning than shorter-term options like hotels or supermarkets.

Implementing this model across the 140,000 long-stay spaces in UK Power Networks’ region could yield an estimated £1.3 billion in flexible energy savings by 2050. Using stranded batteries in thousands of parked EVs as a virtual grid asset could play a major role in the low-carbon transition without direct driver involvement.

The study is evaluating how such a system might roll out nationally and what incentives may encourage customer participation. Insights from long-stay facilities open doors for cost-effective grid flexibility.

Director of customer service and innovation at UK Power Networks Ian Cameron said:

“Through Park and Flex, we foresee a world where dormant vehicles can be used as the building blocks for one of the UK’s biggest flex batteries. This dynamic battery, fuelled by thousands upon thousands of electric vehicles could play a massive role in creating a new green energy supply, and could do so without customers having to lift a finger. As the study continues, it will seek to understand how the new vision could be rolled out nationally and identify the customer incentives needed to make it happen.”

The Park and Flex project, which is being developed alongside Fermata Energy and energy consultancy Baringa, is supported by funding from Innovate UK’s Strategic Innovation Fund.

Tony Posawatz, CEO of Fermata Energy said:

“With ramping sales of electric vehicles, gigawatts of energy storage capacity can be accessed with bi-directional (V2G) charging to support UK distribution networks during peak events. Airports have enormous public car parks and large electrical systems throughout. With thousands of vehicles parked for hours to days at a time, enormous value can be unlocked in key grid locations providing resilience and stability, while lowering costs. This first-of-its kind Park and Flex study will demonstrate the scalable benefits of V2G technology in public car parks for grid networks and consumers alike.”

The Park and Flex project, which is being developed alongside Fermata Energy and energy consultancy Baringa, is supported by funding from Innovate UK’s Strategic Innovation Fund.