DNOs and electric vehicles – keeping us moving

Thirty-six million electric vehicles could be on the roads by 2040, and keeping them moving is our electrical infrastructure’s biggest challenge. Additionally, the government has set a target for 600,000 heat pumps by 2028; by 2040, that number could be greater than three million. Add electric boilers to the mix (gas boilers are banned in new builds from 2025), and you have the recipe for enormous energy demand – predictions put us at 550-680TWh in 2050 compared to 285TWh in 2021. The grid is on record saying that it can easily cope with increased energy demands, but what of the humble distribution network operator (DNO)?

DNOs own and operate the power lines and infrastructure that connect the electrical network to your home. Simply put, the grid supplies power, and the DNO gets that power to you and looks after the local/regional electricity supply. Every connection to local electrical infrastructure goes through the relevant DNO – including domestic, commercial, and industrial connections.

The humble DNO is often lost in the discussion around electric vehicles because much of what they do is behind the scenes. Still, their role is critical to EV charger rollout nationally; without them, everything stops!

DNOs and electric vehicles

DNOs are responsible for maintaining, operating, and investing in the distribution network in specific geographic regions. They ensure that infrastructure is sufficient to meet energy demand, so their investment is critical to EV charger rollout. Ofgem regulates each DNO, controlling how much revenue they can earn, performance levels, and investment. They require DNOs to forecast EV adoption and push DNOs to invest when additional capacity is required.

DNOs are preparing for EV chargers by increasing network capacity and improving access points. They are a facilitator of the connection and charging of EVs, so their primary strategy is forecasting EV adoption and making networks flexible. However, they do more than connect the supply – they also put the charging approach in place to balance capacity and make supply meet demand.

For example, the DNO might determine real-time charging based on network measurements, or timed charging (where chargers are available between certain hours) is the best approach for the connection. Another step DNOs are taking is making network capacity available online with a tool called ConnectMore (more on this below) which will enable visibility over network constraints and allow engineers to self-assess locations for connections.

Overhaul or bolster? That is the question! 

The question is whether DNOs will have to overhaul networks with expensive and disruptive upgrades for EV chargers. This is the most significant risk with the transition to EVs, but all signs point to minimal network modifications. In Ofgem’s 2021 report on the transition to electric vehicles, no DNO network overhauls are expected — only investment in network improvements. The investment will only be “where it is needed,” in other words, where capacity is required or where applications will put a strain on the network.

DNOs want to minimise network investment costs, and one of the critical pillars behind this is monitoring and visibility of low voltage networks. Low voltage networks include homes, and greater visibility over these will help DNOs make timely upgrades that meet capacity. Customer-centric modelling is required to predict EV uptake so that DNOs can upgrade ahead of demand. In its report, Ofgem also makes a necessary admission that it will require DNOs to maximise network flexibility (the ability to adapt the available network resources) before network reinforcement (enhancing the network capacity). This spells out a clear strategy – DNOs will bolster supply when needed but look to enhance flexibility first. Network improvements will be based on modelling data to sustain a reliable network for EV chargers.

ConnectMore

ConnectMore is an interactive tool that lets DNOs, engineers, installers and other stakeholders self-assess optimal locations for EV chargers. Data is based on the existing capacity of the electricity network and pipeline projects. It is the first tool to link DNOs, covering low volume connections and extensive connections like EV charging hubs. It lets customers select their requirements and see which areas meet the demand for connections. The tool is led by SP Energy Networks and will transform self-assessment for energy projects, helping speed up the transition to electric vehicles.

Strategic Innovation Fund

The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), run by Ofgem and Innovate UK, provides funding for DNOs to try new operational, technical, commercial, and contractual arrangements. Last year, Ofgem awarded £300m in funding to 200 low carbon projects, including £38m for 76 EV rapid charging stations from DNO UK Power Networks. The challenge areas for the second funding were announced in May, all of which apply to EV chargers somehow. “Accelerating decarbonisation of major energy demands” is probably the most relevant challenge.

Like the grid, DNOs recognise that the existing electrical network infrastructure is inadequate and inconsistent across the UK and requires capacity improvements to meet demand – this is where the Strategic Innovation Fund comes in. The SIF is looking for projects that increase network capacity by hundreds of MW. For instance, 300MW is equivalent to powering 150,000 domestic EV chargers. Last year, the fund awarded Western Power Distribution £68m to increase network capacity by 617MW – enough to power 385,000 domestic EV chargers.

What next for the UK’s transition to electric vehicles? 

The grid is confident there will be enough electricity to power an estimated thirty-six million electric vehicles in 2040, and DNOs are confident too. DNO investment to reinforce networks and make them more flexible is underway, with funding overseen by Ofgem and valuable projects like ConnectMore rolling out to minimise costs and build efficiency into EV charger installations.

We are in good hands – and we need to be. Sales of new petrol and diesel cars are banned from 2030, and sales of plug-in hybrid cars and vans are banned from 2035. The electric revolution is inevitable and will require A LOT of power.

Thankfully, DNOs and the grid look set to meet the challenge, but we’ll have to wait and see if there are any flies in the ointment.