Project Skyline, which is designed to support a cost-effective and secure transition to electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK, has welcomed four new industry partners.
Launched in October 2020, the project is being run by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) and UK Power Networks, together with ElectraLink, CrowdCharge and the Energy Innovation Centre.
It is designed to help network operators pinpoint where new electricity demand from EV charging is coming from, by combining EV purchase and chargepoint data to improve forecasting.
New signatories to the project including Auto Trader, DriveElectric, Hangar-19 and Rightcharge, as well as Volkswagen UK group announced as a collaborator.
Richard Hartshorn, EV readiness manager for SSEN said: “A data-driven approach to planning the future of our networks allows increased confidence in our decision-making and makes unparalleled accuracy possible. The greater the variety of data types in our arsenal, the better our forecasting for electricity demand on our networks.”
Project Skyline includes the development of a new digital platform, which is to be connected to a data-driven Application Programming Interface (API).
Sharing data through this platform will allow network operators to make better informed decisions around where and when to invest in reinforcement and flexibility to enable greater EV adoption.
“Last year, one in 10 new cars sold were electric vehicles, a number only expected to keep rising,” added Ian Cameron, head of customer services and innovation at UK Power Networks.
“As more and more people go electric, the industry must come together to unlock the true power of data. This project is doing just that.”
