On January 16, RSE, as coordinator, organized the kick-off meeting of the pilot project of aggregation of electric vehicle recharging according to the ‘CIR-RO’ (Controllore di Infrastruttura di Ricarica – Remote Operator) [Charging Infrastructure Controller – Remote Operator] model, which envisages the development of smart charging systems integrated with the new Open Meter 2.0 meters, a fundamental piece in the development of smart grids in Italy. The charging systems under development are smart both vis-à-vis the end users, because they ensure optimal management of charging in coordination with other household loads, without ever ‘tripping’ the meter, and vis-à-vis the grid, as they enable the use of the electric car as a valuable resource for the provision of grid balancing services.

Together with the thirteen partners who responded to the expression of interest, RSE will lead the first private EV charging point aggregation project that is fully compliant with the requirements of Annex X of CEI 0-21 (a rule of the Italian electrotechnical committee, CEI) and related PAS 57-127.

With the goal of implementing, testing and evaluating what is required by the standard, RSE will develop the XMPP communication platform, verifying and implementing all the IT security and scalability requirements that, in the near future, will enable the aggregation of millions of electric vehicles charging in the private sector across the country. The partners involved include charging infrastructure manufacturers and CIRs, which will develop the first products complying with the new regulations to be subsequently commercialized. Completing the team are a number of Remote Operators who, through the platform made available by RSE, will develop recharge aggregation projects within UVAMs – Unità Virtuali Abilitate Miste [Mixed Enabled Virtual Units] or Renewable Energy Communities (RECs).

RSE’s Role

As the project coordinator, RSE defined the timelines, with the goal of completing the work by the end of this year. In the coming months, RSE is committed to developing the first prototype of XMPP communication infrastructure compliant with the requirements of the standard and to provide assistance to CIR-equipped Recharge Infrastructure manufacturers and Remote Operators who wish to develop communication interfaces to it. All project participants will define the compliance tests which will be subsequently proposed as part of the standard.

Participants in the initiative

The thirteen entities that decided to embark on the development of innovative products applied to electric mobility are Alfen, BTicino, EnelX, GardaUno, GMT spa, MAC, Maps Group, EV Plus, Maps Group, S&H, SCAME, SINAPSI, and Università degli Studi di Padova.