Bidirectional charging as a focal point of the trade fair

02.05.2025

Source: E & M powernews

According to a study, the demand for flexibility in Europe is expected to be twice as high by 2030 as it is today. Bidirectional charging could provide partial relief.

Bidirectional charging for electric vehicles could become a key component of the energy transition - provided that technical and regulatory barriers are overcome. This is the result of two different studies. A study by the European industry association Eurelectric in collaboration with the consulting firm EY, for example, shows that the demand for flexibility in Europe is expected to be twice as high by 2030 as it is today. Compared to 2021, it is expected to increase 2.4-fold on a daily basis - from the previous 153 TWh - and 1.8-fold on a weekly basis (from 137 TWh).

In the study, Eurelectric and EY also broke down the potential of bidirectional charging to the individual electric vehicle owner: According to this, an owner of an electric vehicle in Europe could save around 450 to 2,900 euros a year by using both smart and bidirectional charging - shows the study "Plugging into potential" by Eurelectric and EY.

Despite the potential, the use of bidirectional vehicles in Germany has so far failed due to the regulatory and consequently also economic framework, complains Bayernwerk Netz (we reported). The regulatory framework currently makes feeding energy back into the grid unattractive for private operators, complains the distribution network operator in the Eon Group.

Bayernwerk Netz provides an example: If a consumer were to buy electricity at a market price of 0 cents/kWh on a sunny day, he would still have to pay around 23 cents/kWh in levies and charges. Economical resale would only be possible for a few hours a year.

Cost reduction at grid level too

"Research simulations show that bidirectional vehicles are crucial for grid stability and the transition to renewable energies," explains Frank Spennemann, Senior Manager Charging Solutions Energy at Mercedes-Benz, according to a press release from the Smarter E trade fair, which will be starting shortly. According to a study by the Fraunhofer Institutes ISE and ISI, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) could reduce electricity system costs in Europe by up to 22 billion euros per year by 2040. For Germany alone, the authors of the study estimate the potential savings at around 8.4 billion euros per year.

The study analyzed various scenarios for the system integration of V2G. Even with a medium market penetration, car batteries could feed up to 519 billion kWh of electricity into the grid per year - this corresponds to 9 percent of the forecast EU-wide electricity supply in 2040. At peak times, electric vehicles could cover 15 to 20 percent of the electricity demand. This would significantly reduce the need for alternative flexibility options - such as stationary storage, electrolysers and CSP (concentrating solar thermal power) plants.

At the distribution grid level, V2G can achieve moderately lower grid expansion costs, according to the study results. Two scenarios examined - economically optimized and grid-friendly charging - show lower peak loads and better integration of decentralized PV systems. However, the effect is highly location-dependent.

Why bidirectional charging is a niche market

The Fraunhofer study highlights that the potential of V2G is currently limited by a lack of standardization, market incentives and regulatory hurdles. In Germany, the main hurdles are insufficient smart meter coverage, a lack of market participation options for storage systems and levies on electricity fed back into the grid or a lack of exemption.

Bidirectional charging will also be one of the "top topics at the trade fair forums of The smarter E Europe", according to trade fair organizer Solar Promotion. Various aspects of vehicle-to-X technologies will be presented and discussed in seven sessions, five of which will take place at the "Power2Drive" forum. In addition, the organizers will be offering guided tours on all three days of the trade fair, during which industry experts will provide specific insights into technologies, business models and the next steps on the way to integrating vehicle-to-grid & co.

The smarter E

The smarter E Europe will take place this year from May 7 to 9 in Munich; as a trade fair alliance for the energy industry, it brings together four trade fairs - Intersolar Europe, EES Europe, Power 2 Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe. The Power 2 Drive section of the trade fair will focus on charging infrastructure as a key component of the energy transition. Under the guiding theme "Charging the Future of Mobility", the trade fair will showcase the increasing relevance of bidirectional charging applications for the electricity market.

Author: Heidi Roider