Lauri Saarelainen

lauri.saarelainen@lapinamk.fi

+358 40 527 2027

Various electric vehicles are one part of the intelligent energy system. With two-way communication and smart electricity network, vehicles engage as a part of intelligent energy system, where vehicles can work for example as an energy storage. Northern regions have small number of electric vehicles, but increased demand on responsible tourism services are rising the need of harnessing new technologies, of which for example, electric snowmobiles used in safari business are good example.

The main goal for the project is to develop new information about the Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)-solutions commercial and technical possibilities and challenges with two pilot targets. The plan is to implement smart local level system to pilot targets, which can be used to harness electric vehicles (electric snowmobiles, -cars) as an energy storage, while studying the execution from technical and commercial point of view. Research and development aim to boost companies’ investment in energy-efficient renewable energy solutions, which would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The project will result in how Electric Vehicles, such as electric snowmobiles, can act in two roles, as a service in tourism and related industries and as an energy buffer / mobile storage, improving grid flexibility and energy quality, balancing load and improving capacity in the local electricity distribution network, reducing energy costs and the impact of emissions on the climate. To the above-mentioned points will be defined, what kind of innovation policies, techno-economical and social implications are included, as well as further recommendations for R&D, applications and work on commercial research and development. The project will design and test a complete V2G / B concept based on open standards and protocols (e.g. ISO 15118, OCPI, OCPP v1.6 & 2.0) and investigate the effects of Arctic conditions on battery energy storage and bi-directional energy transfer. The results achieved will be promoted and distributed through several channels.

SmartCharge is a project led by Lapland University of Applied Sciences and is implemented in cooperation with the Narvik campus of the University of Norway (UiT Universitet i Tromsø). The project is part of the Interreg North 2014-2020 program and is funded by the managing authority of the Interreg North 2014-2020 program, the Norrbotten County Administrative and Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Regional Council of Lapland.

The total budget of the project is 513 144 €, of which Lapland University of Applied Sciences’ share is 278 754 €, Norway’s share is 234 390 €. The project will be implemented between 1.2.2019 and 31.7.2022.