Nuvve and Circle K Deploy Large-Scale Grid Services Using EV Fast Chargers in Norway and Denmark

Nuvve Holding Corp. and Circle K AS are partnering on a first-of-its-kind project that brings grid services, including frequency regulation, to electric vehicle fast chargers at 50 of Circle K’s service stations and three to five stationary storage sites in Norway and Denmark. The partnership is expected to generate grid services revenues for both Nuvve and Circle K in 2023.

Through its GIVe platform, Nuvve’s V1G unidirectional smart charging technology is expected to manage an initial 40 megawatts of fast chargers and stationary storage for Circle K, with Nuvve’s platform expected to begin in early 2023. Assuming that both parties determine the project to be a success, the partnership is expected to expand across Circle K’s Nordic high-speed charging network and potentially additional markets around the world.

Nuvve’s ability to provide grid services will allow Circle K to monetize its EV charging assets through market participation, helping system operators Statnett in Norway and Energinet in Denmark keep electricity supply and demand in balance at all times.

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While stationary battery electric storage systems (BESS) are widely used in Europe for frequency regulation, Circle K and Nuvve are understood to be the first to use fast chargers for the provision of these services.

Circle K’s Alpitronic Hyperchargers, and three to five storage systems will be remotely connected to the Nuvve GIVe platform. The software will allow them to respond to market signals in real-time and make instantaneous micro adjustments to their electricity flow.

“Circle K will always optimize and grasp opportunities to make it easier for all to grow sustainable E-mobility. Enabling fast frequency response on our charging network paves the way for increased renewable share on the power grid as well as increased resilience of the grid itself. For us the collaboration with Nuvve addresses key challenges with a rapidly expanding network of chargers,” said Head of Global E-mobility in Circle K, Håkon Stiksrud.

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“Nuvve is known in the U.S. primarily for its leadership in bidirectional vehicle-to-grid services; however, in the EU and other markets, we also provide revenue-generating ancillary grid services such as frequency regulation, voltage control and more,” said Nuvve Co-founder, Chair and CEO Gregory Poilasne. “As we look to evolve and lean into markets that are leaders in the energy transition, we see our Circle K partnership as an important step forward that allows us to circumvent supply chain delays that are impacting EV adoption – particularly in the US fleet market. We’re drawing on our decades of experience and innovation to provide Circle K and the transmission system with reliable and robust grid services.”

Using fast chargers for frequency regulation opens a new method to balance energy generation and consumption. This is increasingly important as more intermittent renewable electricity sources, such as wind and solar, come online. Nuvve’s collaboration with Circle K helps support an increased renewable electricity share on the grid, reduces dependency on fossil fuels and lowers the operational cost of fast charging services.

Circle K has more than 430 Circle K owned DC chargers across Norway which leads the world in EVs per capita as well as more than 130 in Denmark.

Circle K is part of Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT), a global fuel and retail company with operations in more than 20 countries. ACT’s mission is to make customers’ lives easier every day, with a vision to become the world’s preferred destination for convenience and mobility. As part of this vision, ACT is playing an active role in the energy transition by expanding EV charging solutions across the network. Through the Circle K brand, ACT has established a leading position in EV solutions in the European markets of the company.

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