Bidirectional Charging Pilot Expands Grid Flexibility in Sweden

Vattenfall, Energy Bank, and Volkswagen have launched a large-scale pilot project for bidirectional charging in Sweden. The initiative aims to evaluate how electric vehicles (EVs) can support grid stability by acting as distributed energy resources.

Vehicle-to-grid enables flexible energy systems
Bidirectional charging, or vehicle-to-grid (V2G), allows EVs to both consume and supply electricity. This capability enables vehicles to function as mobile energy storage units, supporting real-time balancing of electricity supply and demand.

As renewable energy sources such as wind and solar increase their share in the energy mix, variability in generation creates a growing need for flexible resources. Aggregated EV batteries can provide this flexibility by storing excess energy and feeding it back into the grid when demand rises.

Scaling from pilot validation to real-world deployment
The project builds on a previous trial conducted in Hudiksvall, where V2G functionality was tested in a residential setting. Following successful validation, the partners are expanding deployment to approximately 200 bidirectional chargers across central and southern Sweden.

The rollout will involve both private households and fleet operators, providing a broader dataset on usage patterns, grid interaction, and system performance under real-world conditions.

Aggregation platform enables market participation
Energy Bank provides the software platform responsible for aggregating and optimizing charging operations. By coordinating multiple EVs, the platform creates a virtual energy resource that can participate in electricity and flexibility markets.

Vattenfall will act as the energy partner, enabling aggregated capacity to be traded across different market mechanisms. This integration allows EV owners to receive compensation based on the flexibility services they provide.

Long-term insights for scalable deployment
The project will run until 2028, generating data on technical performance, user behavior, and market integration. These insights are intended to support the development of scalable V2G frameworks and inform regulatory and infrastructure decisions.

Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.