First Bus expands smart charging system at Glasgow depot

UK transport company First Bus is expanding use of a smart charging system at its Caledonia depot in Glasgow, allowing the operator to better manage the energy demand of its electric bus fleet while supporting the power grid.

Image: First Bus

The technology, which is supplied by energy management specialists Optimo Energy, will now cover all 172 charging outlets at the depot – up from 34 during a successful initial trial that began in May. The system forecasts the energy requirements of individual buses and adjusts their charging schedules according to operational needs, electricity prices and grid demand. The priority remains ensuring that buses are sufficiently charged and ready for service.

Once those requirements have been met, First Bus is able to use the remaining flexibility in its charging demand to respond to conditions on the electrical grid. For example, the operator can increase charging when renewable electricity production rises or reduce its consumption during periods of high demand. The expansion also enables First Bus to participate in energy flexibility markets and sell surplus energy back to the grid, potentially creating an additional revenue stream from infrastructure that would otherwise be used primarily for fleet charging.

As one of the UK’s largest bus depots, the Caledonia facility has a potential charging load of 12 MW – despite operating with a 5 MW grid connection. The Optimo energy management system is intended to make better use of the available connection while avoiding the need to charge every bus at max power simultaneously.

Isabel McAllister, Chief Sustainability Officer at First Bus, commented: “We’ve invested significantly in our electric depot infrastructure, so want to ensure we’re using that infrastructure as intelligently as possible. One of the challenges we face is making sure we have enough power to provide a reliable service for customers whilst also continuing to provide surplus energy to the grid. Optimo resolves that challenge for us.”

Dean Homoki-Farkas, CEO & cofounder of Optimo Energy, added: “We’re delighted to be expanding our work with First Bus at Caledonia following the success of the initial trial. This next phase is an important opportunity to demonstrate at scale that energy flexibility and the operational demands of a major electric fleet can go hand in hand.”