The SmartCharge project aims to develop an intelligent platform to manage Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations — integrating EV chargers, renewable energy sources (RES), and energy storage systems.
The electricity and transportation sectors collectively amount to approximately half the total world emissions. Hence, it is imperative that actions are taken towards reducing the emissions from these sectors. Key efforts include (i) electrifying transportation and (ii) increasing renewable energy (RES) in the grid. Increasing electric vehicle (EV) adoption is essential, as road fleets produce 75% of transport emissions. However, the lack of financial incentives hinders EV infrastructure and fleet growth. Meanwhile, expanding RES faces grid capacity and stability issues, leading to curtailments and reduced RES utilization, an aspect that is currently strongly experienced in Cyprus.
The SmartCharge project will design and develop an economically viable, intelligent EV charging station platform (EVCP) solution that will optimally manage EV charging infrastructure, RES, and energy storage systems (ESSs), enabling monetary benefits and lower EV charging prices, and supporting the power grid.
To achieve this ambitious goal, SmartCharge brings together an emerging SME from Cyprus, with international market presence in developing and deploying sustainable and green energy related projects (Ecotricity) and a leading research and innovation institution in Cyprus (KIOS CoE, UCY) with internationally recognized expertise in developing intelligent monitoring, control and optimization applications for critical infrastructures, such as power grids and transportation systems.
The project’s outcomes are expected to enhance the competitiveness and investability of EV charging technologies in Cyprus, boost the bi-directional exchange of know-how between academia and local industry, and contribute to the decarbonization of the transportation and power sectors in Cyprus.
The SmartCharge project is supported by the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) of Cyprus through the “RESTART 2016–2020” Programmes for Research, Technological Development and Innovation. Funding has been provided under the Programme “Commercial Proof of Concept – Energy,” aiming to promote innovative energy solutions with commercial potential. The project is implemented under the RIF Proposal Number COM-CONCEPT-ENERGY/0624/.
