Vattenfall InCharge will install and manage up to 35,000 public charging points in the provinces of North-Holland, Flevoland and Utrecht in the Netherlands, with two other operators over the next four years. To this end, the project organisation MRA-Elektrisch issued a tender on behalf of 74 municipalities. The first charging stations could be on the streets as early as mid-2024.
Pieter van Ommeren, Managing Director Vattenfall InCharge Netherlands: 'We are extremely happy to have won the tender and to be able to work with Shell ubitricity and TotalEnergies to contribute to the sustainability goals of the provinces involved. With smart charging technology, easy payment options for electric drivers and customisation for municipalities, we want to make electric driving easy and affordable for everyone.'
The tender took into account the overloaded electricity grid, also known as grid congestion. Electricity grids need to be reinforced, but this takes time, so meanwhile the grid needs to be used more efficiently. That is why Vattenfall charging stations support smart charging, where the charging session is adjusted according to the grid load or power price.
This allows Vattenfall to temporarily reduce the power of the charging stations at those spots on the grid where the demand for electricity is temporarily too high, for example in the evening peak when everyone comes home.
'Such tender is key to the expansion of our public charging infrastructure. While we are currently already one of the largest players in the Dutch market, a new concession like this is key to maintaining and continuously growing our public infrastructure in The Netherlands', says Fabian Hagmann, Head of E-mobility Vattenfall.
The smart charging algorithm also ensures charging at times when power prices are low, based on prices on the day-ahead power market. This will happen automatically. By matching charging to the best price, charging customers save on their charging session. The electricity price is often low at times when there is a high supply of solar and wind energy.
Source: Vattenfall
