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.
