The missing piece: How diverse behaviors shape flexible electric vehicle charging
On 22.03.2023 by Christine Johanna GschwendtnerIn an increasingly decentralized and electrified energy system, electric vehicle (EV) users and their diverse behaviors could both drastically hinder or substantially support current energy transition efforts in many regions globally. The negative or positive effect depends on how users are integrated into the system. The grid risks experiencing high peaks in electricity demand when many EV users charge their vehicles at the same time. Changes in charging behavior that shift charging to other times and places can substantially minimize grid expansion needs and balance electricity demand with variable renewable energy supply. Despite this flexibility potential, behavioral aspects of EV charging are often oversimplified or even neglected in studies and pilot projects. This blogpost discusses how different behaviors can support the integration of EVs and renewable energy.
Why and how to put demand-side flexibility at the heart of the zero-carbon electricity transition
On 16.03.2023 by Christine Johanna GschwendtnerElectricity systems require more and more flexibility to integrate increasing shares of variable renewable electricity and avoid costly grid expansion. The demand side – involving electricity end-users – will be key in providing relatively cheap flexibility. Looking beyond the technical aspects is crucial to leverage this potential; namely, by addressing social and regulatory challenges. Effective compensation mechanisms for providing flexibility and procurement strategies for different services, particularly at the distribution grid level, need to be established while enabling the participation of small flexibility providers.
Cheers to 50 articles! 500 more perhaps?
On 04.04.2022 by Churchill Omondi Agutu, Christine Johanna GschwendtnerSo the Energy Blog @ETH just turned 50 articles old! Writing for the win! To think that an idea that was sparked by an unexpected encounter of students Flo, Yael, Evan & Alejandro, in their early PhD years while at ETH Zurich, what a feat! Through the support of the ETH Energy Science Centre (ESC), the Energy Blog @ETH team, consisting mostly of PhD students, along with professors and ESC staff, has worked to create a space where anyone working in energy at ETH Zurich can showcase their research or give informed opinions on pertinent energy topics of our time.
In this article, we at the Energy Blog @ETH team want to give you a glimpse “behind the curtain” into the inner workings of our team! What is the #ETHEnergyBlog about? And how can you be part of this budding team?
Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Electricity . Energy Efficiency . Smart Energy . Society . Transportation
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and car sharing: Joining forces to decarbonize electricity and transport?
On 25.01.2021 by Christine Johanna GschwendtnerHow can we couple future developments in the electricity and transport systems to support decarbonization? Combining Vehicle-to-Grid and car sharing could foster both innovations and achieve synergies in decarbonizing both sectors.