ISGAN - GSEF: Entries now open for ISGAN's 2022 Award Of Excellence

Nominations are now open for the Eighth ISGAN Award of Excellence competition, sponsored by the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN), in partnership with the Global Smart Energy Federation (GSEF). The award will recognize excellence in innovation, integration, and transformation of smart grid systems.

2022 Award Theme: “Excellence in EV Integration with Smart Grid.”                   

In most low-carbon scenarios, electric vehicle (EV) integration is a critical vector for decarbonization of transport. However, effective EV integration presents a variety of highstakes, technical challenges for electricity network operators that must be resolved for that promise to be realized at a speed and scale consistent with global climate and clean energy objectives. EV charging is a considerable load on the electric grid that can impact the power quality. Thousands of EVs charging at the same time can overload the grid elements at places and must be monitored and controlled in real-time. Hence, EV integration with the grid requires detailed planning. The electricity stored in the batteries of EVs can inject electricity back to the grid when it is required to support the grid. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies are maturing while the cycle life of new battery chemistries is expected to outlive the life of EVs; and V2G functionalities will soon be a standard functionality in the next generation of EVs. Millions of EVs connected to the grid can be aggregated as virtual power plants (VPP) to support the grid during peak hours. 

Around the world, rooftop PV (RTPV) systems have become economically attractive to most categories of customers and we are witnessing large scale rollout of RTPV systems everywhere. As the capacity of RTPV generation increases on a feeder, the intermittency of the PV output would adversely affect the grid with voltage dips/surges and reverse power flows. Both RTPV systems and EVs are normally connected to the low-voltage grids. In this context if EVs are smartly integrated with the distribution grid, the EV batteries can inject electricity back to the grid when RTPV output suddenly drops. Similarly, when the RTPV generation is not being consumed in the buildings, the power flowing to the grid can be stored in the EV batteries. With increasing share of renewable energy generation, the green electricity can be utilized for EV charging leading to carbon-free transportation. An ISGAN Award of Excellence on this topic would draw policymakers’ attention to the role that smart grids play for making EV integration possible. This Award also builds on the multiinitiative CEM Horizontal Accelerator project on EV integration.  Thus, ISGAN and GSEF have chosen “Excellence in EV Integration with Smart Grid” as the theme of the 2022 Award of Excellence.

Eligible projects include those that integrate EVs with the grid and successfully demonstrate functionalities any three of the following functionalities with a fleet size of minimum 6 EVs and in operation for a minimum period of one year as on 21 January 2022.

• Smart Charging of EVs

• Vehicle to Home (V2H)/Vehicle to Building (V2B)

• Vehicle to Grid (V2G) Services

• Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Operation of EVs

• EV Charging with Renewable Energy

• RTPV Integration with EV Charging Stations

♦ Timeline of Awards Competition

♦ Submission Deadline: 21^st January, 2022

Interested parties are encouraged to visit the ISGAN Awards website to learn more about the award rules, entry format, etc.

Submissions will be judged by a jury of international experts organized by ISGAN and the GSEF. The jury will select one or more winning projects using three primary criteria (potential impacts, economic rationale, potential for replication or adaptation) and two secondary criteria (level of innovation, other benefits).

Winners will be contacted in March 2022. They will receive prestigious recognition during an awards ceremony at the Thirteenth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM13). They will be also recognized in ISGAN and GSEF products and events, affirming them as global exemplars of excellence. (Holding of the on-site ceremony will depend on health guidance regarding COVID-19)

For any further questions, please contact at isgan-awards@smartgrid.or.kr

Download Important documents related to ISGAN 2022 Awards:

ISGAN's 2022 Award of Excellence FAQ

ISGAN's 2022 Award of Excellence Fact Sheet

ISGAN's 2022 Award of Excellence Official Rules

ISGAN's 2022 Award Submission Form

ISGAN's 2022 Supplemental Form