Photovoltaic farm and charging stations – a perfect duo

While electric car charging stations adjacent to photovoltaic farms are not yet widely adopted, owners of solar installations are recognizing the potential of sharing stored energy with drivers of zero-emission vehicles as a valuable addition to their business model.

Owners of photovoltaic farms understand the significant profitability they can bring. The ongoing energy transformation, which involves investments in solar energy production and processing, as well as the advancement of electromobility, is generating growing interest in such projects. Investors are particularly drawn to the potential for faster returns and increased profits. One notable strategy is integrating PV farms with DC charging stations.

Jan Trzeciakowski, Sales & Marketing Manager at Elocity, highlights the primary benefit of installing a charging station near a PV farm: it allows owners to optimize margins on charging services by utilizing cheaper energy generated on the farm. This approach substantially boosts ROI and expedites the return on investment in the EV station, while also enhancing profits from the farm itself.

Cheaper charging at the station next to the PV farm

Utilizing charging stations near photovoltaic farms also presents significant savings for owners of zero-emission vehicles. With Elocity’s station management software, owners can adjust prices based on solar operation. This innovative approach has been successfully implemented in Poddubówek near Suwałki, alongside a photovoltaic farm owned by Kazbud company.

Jakub Górski, Business Development Director at Coral, a company specializing in comprehensive photovoltaic installations, reflects on the results of the pilot implementation. He notes that during sunny months, there is a heightened interest from drivers in charging their cars at photovoltaic farms. Simultaneously, station owners can sell energy at a premium compared to exchange rates, resulting in higher profits.

Górski emphasizes that despite the higher price, this energy remains more cost-effective for electric car users compared to other commercial stations. Ultimately, all stakeholders benefit from this arrangement.

Farther from the road, closer to savings

The integration of charging stations with photovoltaic farms is not only appreciated by farm owners but also by electric car drivers. Importantly, the distance from main roads, which can often be a concern due to the size of PV farms, doesn’t deter users. The primary appeal lies in the attractive charging prices and the availability of fast DC stations. This offering is particularly effective in tourist regions, where stations within 10 km of main roads are readily utilized by both residents and tourists.

Jan Trzeciakowski estimates that, with properly optimized charging rates during a sunny season, the return on investment for constructing charging stations at a PV farm can be shortened by at least a year compared to traditionally located stations.

Moreover, the charging station, utilizing Elocity technology, is visible in the company’s application, which is already utilized by thousands of drivers. Additionally, through roaming, stations are accessible to holders of popular fleet cards such as Shell Card EV and DKV Fleet Card +Charge, as well as applications like Kia Recharge and Shell Recharge. This enhances convenience for drivers who are spared the need to download additional applications.