To meet the increasing energy demand for EVs in the City of Ottawa, IESO, OEB, BlueWave-ai, and Hydro Ottawa are working together to coordinate EV charging for electricity demand.
A project run by BluWave-ai, which is a renewable energy AI company, and Hydro Ottawa, a regulated electricity distribution company, will be using AI and managing EV charging during peak electricity demand created by EVs. This project is supported by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and Ontario Energy Board (OEB).
The pilot, called EV Everywhere, will use AI to create an online service for EV owners that will pool EV batteries’ storage and charging capabilities to smooth out demand peaks and leverage lower-cost energy at off-peak. The automated system will also gauge customer interest and impacts.
Devashish Paul, CEO and Founder of BluWave-ai stated that “Distribution utilities in Ontario are faced with the challenges to support increased demand from EV chargers in customers’ homes and businesses,” he also added “BluWave-ai’s EV Everywhere eases the transition to high EV penetration using real-time network data to predict demand, considering forecasted consumer loads and behind-the-meter renewable generation. Integrated with utility systems, EV Everywhere provides optimal dispatch for intelligent scheduling of EV charging and available battery energy storage. It’s a non-wires alternative solution that can defer or reduce the need for capital infrastructure upgrades.”
This pilot is to test an AI software that will support utilities in visibility and the growing numbers of EVs that draw electricity from the local grid. The project also aims to save customers money while extending the life of electricity infrastructure. With input from customers, optimized charging times, and strategic placement of battery storage, the platform aims to reduce the strain on the local grid; it will also allow EVs to provide services to the broader provincial electricity market.
Lesley Gallinger, President and CEO of the IESO stated that “Innovative technologies, like AI, are unlocking the potential for consumers to exert greater control over how they use electricity,” she also added “By continuing to fund local projects through our Grid Innovation Fund, we are finding new ways to harness the potential of local supply and change the way we think about our electricity grid.”
The total investment for the project is $41.8 million.
