Shell and Alfen pilot 350 kWh battery-based charging solution in the Netherlands Shell and Alfen have installed a 350 kWh battery-based charging solution at a filling station in Zaltbommel, the Netherlands, as part of a pilot project. The system operates with two charging points of 175 kW each and is simultaneously integrated into a virtual power plant for “peak shaving”. Alfen and Shell are already cooperating on the expansion of the HPC network in the Netherlands. The charging infrastructure specialist is responsible for supplying transformer stations and intelligent grid connection services. The pilot project is now dedicated to testing a battery-based charging system. The mineral oil company says this is “a premiere for Shell.” The 350-kWh storage system is supposed to circumvent the costly upgrade of the public electricity grid, while at the same time the Zaltbommel charging station is investigating the extent to which the charging system can relieve the grid by feeding energy back into it as needed and thus generate revenue.
Advertisement Shell and Alfen have launched a pilot to trial an on-site battery-powered system to support ultra-fast electric vehicle charging at Shell’s Zaltbommel forecourt in the Netherlands. Connected to a virtual power plant (VPP), the system provides additional benefits as it can use the spare capacity of the battery to sell electricity back to the grid at peak demand moments. This generates revenue for the site – and helps provide stability to the electricity grid. The pilot combines Alfen’s battery with Shell’s fast charging expertise, including software management from Shell-owned NewMotion and Greenlots, to enable fast charging at grid-constrained locations where it would otherwise be impossible. It is also a sustainable solution - using stored energy helps maximise the use of renewable electricity.