Virta opens an additional revenue stream for EV charging operators across France and the United Kingdom

Grid flexibility is now available to all charging operators in both markets – on any charging platform, across both AC and DC charging.

Virta is making grid flexibility universally available to charge point operators (CPOs) in France and the United Kingdom, opening a new revenue stream from charging infrastructure they already own.

• A second revenue stream. Operators are paid for making charging capacity available to the power system. The value is set by how much electricity the network typically consumes, so revenue grows with charging volumes and requires no additional hardware.
• Open to every operator. The service is not limited to any specific electricity provider. 
• On any platform. Virta’s Broker solution allows participation regardless of which charge point management system (CPMS) the operator runs.
• AC and DC. Flexibility is available across both AC and DC charging, so the whole network can contribute.
• Limited operational impact. Reductions in charging power are requested only at times of system stress or extreme electricity price volatility. The allowed impact on charging experience is always agreed with the charging operator.

Virta provides this flexibility through demand response: adjusting charging power across the networks it manages, on both AC and DC charging, and offering that capability to the power system. What is sold is capacity – a commitment that a defined amount of charging power can be reduced if the grid requires it – and operators are paid for making it available. Individual charging networks are too small to reach these markets on their own, so Virta pools capacity across operators.

The service is already established in the Nordics and now extends to two of Europe’s largest charging markets. For a sector in which charging infrastructure takes years to pay back, flexibility adds income on top of existing networks. Flexible demand supports security of supply and eases the price spikes that occur when demand outruns available generation.

Modulo, a Virta CPMS customer in France, is one of the forerunning operators to take part. Modulo’s network comprises roughly 1,600 charging points and several megawatts of charging capacity – capacity that can now be made available to the French energy market.

"Charging operators have invested in infrastructure and are waiting years for pay back and profitability. Flexibility enables the operators to increase profitability from the investment without spending more.", says Juha Karppinen, Director of Energy Unit at Virta.

Interested in learning how Virta could help your organisation generate additional revenue streams through grid flexibility?

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