CASE STUDY: SwitchDin partners with Viva Energy to accelerate Ultrafast EV charging rollout
The Customer
Viva Energy, operator of more than 1,330 fuel stations across Australia under the Reddy Express, OTR, Shell, and Liberty brands, is driving innovation in the growing electric vehicle (EV) charging market. In partnership with Australia’s technology firm SwitchDin, Viva Energy has launched its rollout of ultrafast EV charging across NSW – without the need for grid capacity upgrades.
Challenges faced by Viva Energy
Ultrafast charging needs more electricity than the grid can normally supply: To support it can require a grid capacity upgrade by the site's energy utility that could take up to two years to complete – if grid capacity is available at all. However, to enable up to 600kW of EV charging, Viva Energy needed a solution that could operate within existing grid constraints, with some sites under 100kVA. That’s when they turned to SwitchDin to find ways to maximise their behind-the-meter assets, given each site hosts up to 110kVA of solar and 900kWh of batteries.
To ensure an investment case, Viva Energy needed to optimise these energy assets’ performance.
And of course it's all about customer experience! With high-power energy assets introduced at each site, Viva Energy would be able to prioritise safeguarding the operational continuity of both EV charging and on-site retail amenities. This was to ensure customer satisfaction by enhancing the overall experience, and as a bonus, boosting their Net Promoter Score.
SwitchDin’s Solution
To help do this, Viva Energy chose SwitchDin's Stormcloud platform. Stormcloud provides cloud orchestration and edge control of on-site Distributed Energy Resources (DER) like Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), solar Photovoltaic (PV) inverters, and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment. This enables high performance, high resilience and software-defined agility.
Starting with a single pilot site, Viva Energy rigorously tested SwitchDin's advanced Stormcloud solution across various demanding scenarios before commencing rollout to its first production site in NSW.
Key Features & Benefits
Ultrafast Power, Zero Grid Strain: At each site, SwitchDin’s Stormcloud harnesses the battery energy storage system’s capacity to deliver instantaneous EV charging power of up to 600kW, through ultrafast EV supply equipment. This setup can charge multiple EVs from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes, with no additional burden on the grid.
Grid-Safe, Site-Safe Operation: Stormcloud’s intelligent edge control ensures safe, robust site operation by dynamically managing energy flows and responding to risks in real time. Redundant systems at both cloud and edge, ensure reliability and availability of ultrafast speeds, with edge control maintaining stability when cloud communications are lost.
Vendor-agnostic asset optimisation: The freedom to choose whatever battery storage system and EV supply equipment vendors, let Viva Energy select the equipment that aligned best with their performance and budget needs. It also meant they had the flexibility to switch vendors in the future as more competitive options emerge.
Outcome
Accelerated rollout and improved time-to-revenue: With SwitchDin, Viva Energy avoided the need for major grid upgrades to support further roll out of its ultrafast EV charging stations across its network. It enables a different approach to the grid constraint challenges often experienced, providing a win: win solution for both the Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) and Viva Energy.
Optimised energy usage and cost savings: By integrating the solar panels, battery storage, and EV supply equipment load management, Viva Energy will reduce its operational costs. The value of SwitchDin’s adaptable, dynamic system is that it continuously optimises energy flows in real-time to meet both site and grid constraints. It responds to periods of high network tariffs and high energy demand.
Future-proof platform to reduce cost-to-serve: The Stormcloud platform enables Viva Energy to unlock additional value from its energy assets into the future. It does so through wholesale arbitrage of the energy market participation via AEMO’s Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) and Machine Learning for load forecasting.
Conclusion
SwitchDin’s partnership with Viva Energy enables further rollout of its ultrafast EV charging network that would otherwise be impossible with today’s grid. It establishes Viva Energy as a market leader. With SwitchDin’s Stormcloud, Viva Energy, avoided infrastructure upgrade costs, and cut operational costs.
SwitchDin Pty Ltd
info@switchdin.com | switchdin.com
