V2X Innovation programme: bi-directional charging demonstrations

Key Features

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £9.4 million. This is for small scale demonstrations of novel Vehicle to everything (V2X) energy technology providing storage and flexible services under Phase 2 of the V2X Innovation Programme.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Share of up to £9.4 million

Opens: 21st Mar 2023

Closes: 10th May 2023

! This scheme is now closed

Overview

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will invest up to £9.4 million in innovative Vehicle to everything (V2X) energy small scale demonstration projects, under Phase 2 of the V2X Innovation Programme. This is part of the Flexibility Innovation Programme within the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

Innovate UK are delivering the V2X Innovation Programme on behalf of DESNZ.

Scope

The aims of this competition are to:

  • demonstrate innovative Vehicle to everything (V2X) hardware and software solutions using new business models with real-world drivers in a real-world setting
  • trial new flexibility propositions for a range of consumer use-cases using on-road electric vehicles (EVs)
  • unlock and expand the energy flexibility potential of EV bi-directional charging technologies in the UK
  • accelerate commercialisation of V2X technologies and services
  • increase business and consumer interest in V2X energy
  • bring together diverse stakeholders across the energy and transport sectors to overcome barriers to V2X deployment

V2X solutions for on-road vehicles are in scope for this competition, including cars, vans, buses, freight, special-use vehicles such as emergency response and refuse collection vehicles.

Your proposal must:

  • deliver a minimum 6-month demonstration with real-world drivers in a real-world setting using on or off-vehicle bi-directional chargers using DC Combined Charging System (CCS), DC Charge de move (CHAdeMO) or AC V2X technology
  • demonstrate using between 10 to 50 bi-directional charging units, either existing or newly installed as part of this project
  • trial innovative V2X services for domestic or non-domestic use, or a mixture of both
  • trial an innovative V2X customer proposition such as behind-the-meter services or grid services which is different to those demonstrated in the UK to date
  • align with the principles of interoperability, cyber-security, data privacy and grid stability, in line with Transitioning to a net zero energy system Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan 2021 and Delivering a smart and secure electricity system (consultation on interoperability and cyber security of energy smart appliances and remote load control)
  • align with the Flexibility Innovation Programme
  • deliver appropriate knowledge dissemination activities

As part of your project you must deliver a Trial Report at the end of your minimum 6 month demonstration period.

The Trial Report must contain a detailed report for use by government organisations addressing the following Research Questions, and an Executive Summary suitable for public dissemination. A first draft report containing contents list, introduction, method and early findings addressing the Research Questions must be submitted by 31st March 2025. The final version of the Trial Report must be submitted by 30 June 2025.

If any of these questions are not relevant to your project you must explain why in your application.

Please see here for research questions.

Specific Themes

Your project can focus on one or more of the following:

  • bi-directional charging equipment compatible with a wide range of EVs
  • bi-directional charging equipment using DC CCS, CHAdeMO or AC protocols
  • cost reduction of compatible bi-directional charging equipment or deployment costs
  • trialling new business models to increase the range of V2X use-cases, for example in public charging locations or for freight vehicles
  • trialling new V2X commercial propositions for example in new markets, such as V2H, V2B or for new services or stacking multiple revenues
  • providing valid and reliable data justifying revenue predictions for a range of market actors in the V2X ecosystem
  • exploring the opportunity for electric road vehicles, beyond cars, buses and light goods vehicles to provide quantifiable flexible energy services, building or on-site energy management and the grid

This list is not exhaustive.

Eligibility

Your project must:

  • have a maximum grant request of £1.56 million
  • start on 1 October 2023
  • end funded activities by 31 March 2025
  • carry out all of its project work in the UK
  • intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
  • involve a minimum of 2 collaborative grant claiming organisations

You must only include eligible project costs in your application.

Under current restrictions, this competition will not fund any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any Russian and Belarusian entity as lead, partner or subcontractor. This includes any goods or services originating from a Russian and Belarusian source.

To lead a project your organisation must:

  • be a UK registered business of any size
  • collaborate with at least 2 other UK registered organisations

More information on the different types of organisation can be found in our Funding rules.

Academic institutions cannot lead.

Project participants can include, but are not limited to:

  • transport sector stakeholders such as vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure providers and operators
  • energy sector stakeholders such as distribution network operators (DNOs), energy suppliers, flexibility system operators, equipment or system developers
  • IT, digital and cyber security stakeholders, for example mobility as a service, or home energy management
  • end users and infrastructure owners such as local authorities and fleet operators both public and private

To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be one of the following UK registered:

  • business of any size
  • academic institution
  • charity
  • not for profit
  • public sector organisation
  • research and technology organisation (RTO)

Each partner organisation must be invited into the Innovation Funding Service by the lead to collaborate on a project. Once accepted, partners will be asked to login or to create an account and enter their own project costs into the Innovation Funding Service.

To be an eligible collaboration, the lead and at least one other organisation must apply for funding when entering their costs into the application.

Your project can include partners that do not receive any of this competition’s funding, for example non-UK businesses. Their costs will count towards the total project costs.

Subcontractors are allowed in this competition.

Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.

You can use subcontractors from overseas but must make the case in your application as to why you could not use suppliers from the UK.

You must provide a detailed rationale, evidence of the potential UK contractors you approached and the reasons why they were unable to work with you. We will not accept a cheaper cost as a sufficient reason to use an overseas subcontractor.

All subcontractor costs must be justified and appropriate to the total project costs.

You can only lead on one application but can be included as a collaborator in any number of applications.

You cannot use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition.

Exclusions

Innovate UK are not funding projects that are:

  • not addressing compatible bi-directional EV charging technology
  • duplicating existing V2G and V2X technology, services or business models already demonstrated in the UK
  • proposing V2X solutions for non-road transport

Innovate UK cannot fund projects that are:

  • dependent on export performance, for example giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that it exports a certain quantity of bread to another country
  • dependent on domestic inputs usage, for example giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that it uses 50% UK flour in their product

Funding Costs

Under Phase 2 of the V2X Innovation Programme up to £9.4 million has been allocated by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to fund innovative demonstration projects in this competition. Funding will be in the form of a grant.

If your organisation’s work on the project is commercial or economic, your funding request must not exceed the limits below. These limits apply even if your organisation normally acts non-economically but for the purpose of this project will be undertaking commercial or economic activity.

For industrial research projects, you could get funding for your eligible project costs of:

  • up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation
  • up to 60% if you are a medium sized organisation
  • up to 50% if you are a large organisation

For more information on company sizes, please refer to the company accounts guidance. This is a change from the EU definition unless you are applying under State aid.

The research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of the project can share up to 30% of the total eligible project costs. If your consortium contains more than one research organisation undertaking non-economic activity, this maximum is shared between them. Of that 30% you could get funding for your eligible project costs of up to:

  • 80% of full economic costs (FEC) if you are a Je-S registered institution such as an academic
  • 100% of your project costs if you are an RTO, charity, not for profit organisation, public sector organisation or research organisation

Interested in applying for this competition?

Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.