Tuesday 8 December 2020

EV at SSE: leading the charge on electric vehicles

Electric vehicles (EV) are increasingly popular at SSE’s Customer Service Centre near Portsmouth, so the site needed more charging points to meet demand. Many of the EV drivers there are employees of SSE.

“Our charging points are popular, and installing more has encouraged employees to switch to electric vehicles because they know there’s somewhere secure to charge. When I started here there was one person with an EV; now it’s around 70.”
Alison Savage, Facilities Manager, SSE

Facts about SSE Customer Service Centre, Havant Operations: Utilities No. of employees: 2, 378 The problem: Energy infrastructure for the growing number of employees and visitors with electric vehicles. The solution: New charging points powered by 100% renewable SSE Green.

[caption id="attachment_215069" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: SSE[/caption]

To help with an expected increase in employee electric vehicle orders, general employee use and visitors’ urgent charging requirements at SSE’s Customer Service Centre, an additional three twin 7 kW faster charging posts were installed in July 2019, increasing the number of EV designated parking bays to 14.

The electricity supplying the charging points is matched to 100% renewable electricity from SSE’s wind and hydro generation.

As the UK and Ireland’s largest generator of renewable electricity, it’s natural for SSE to champion green energy. Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) and energy performance certificates prove SSE’s Hampshire site is on the road to net zero.

SSE’s Facilities Management team finds it easy to manage the charging points. An online rota is created and the EV drivers operate this. FM simply monitor the rota and help resolve any issues.

The new charging points add to the EV facilities on site already. November 2014 saw the construction of a 17 kW charging station in the car park. The innovative solar PV canopy covers eight parking bays and generates electricity which offsets into charging points for electric vehicles.

This is one of more than £1 million of carbon and energy saving initiatives that SSE has invested in since September 2013 at its Hampshire site. Projects have included the installation of internal lighting controls, a solar thermal system, a solar PV roof mounted system and a 24 hour turbo chiller, all helping to cut SSE’s carbon emissions.

“SSE EV completes the circle of renewable energy and car charging. The next step will be to install battery storage to harness solar energy at weekends when charging points are not used.”
Adrian Price, Property Manager, SSE