The Green Review

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Universities play a crucial role in achieving a sustainable future, especially through their research. In light of this, we are excited to highlight individuals and groups at UNB that have dedicated their time to pursuing sustainability-related research. Know someone who should be a Sustainability Research Champion? Let us know at sustain@unb.ca.

Our newest Sustainability Research Champion is Dr. Shivam Saxena, an Assistant Professor from UNB Fredericton’s Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Revving up resilience: Bidirectional EVs for transforming energy and climate in New Brunswick

Overview of your research

Electric vehicles (EVs) can be used as bidirectional "batteries on wheels" that provide stored energy to homes, buildings, and the grid to improve energy resiliency and combat climate change.  In this way, EVs can discharge excess power when there is peak electricity demand instead of relying on expensive and unsustainable fossil fuel generators. Also, EVs can provide backup power to a home during outages and recharge with solar energy to improve self-sufficiency. This project will demonstrate these functionalities by developing intelligent control algorithms to charge/discharge strategically, culminating in the first of its kind demonstration in New Brunswick.

How does your work intersect with sustainability?

Our research project intersects with sustainability in multiple ways:

First, we address the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity grid. Bidirectional EVs can discharge stored electricity during peak demand hours, reducing the need for fossil fuel-based generators and reducing the carbon footprint of the grid.

Second, we address the sustainability of energy consumption. Bidirectional EVs can serve as backup power sources during outages, ensuring that homes remain powered even when the grid is down. This not only enhances the quality of life during emergencies but also decreases the need for backup generators, which are often powered by fossil fuels.

Third, our project optimizes EV charging/discharging with the integration of solar energy, enabling homes to move towards net-zero emissions and reliance on grid electricity. With each home growing more self-sufficient, the entire energy ecosystem becomes more sustainable.

In essence, our research project is devoted to creating a more sustainable, resilient, and environmentally conscious energy ecosystem in New Brunswick, making it a model for sustainable energy practices across Canada.

What impact do you hope your research will have?

We are hoping that this research project will turn into a pilot so we can test the effectiveness of our algorithms and general approach in the real world. We feel that strategic control of EV fleets is a critical asset in the fight against climate change, and this project would raise awareness for the versatility of bidirectional EVs in this fight. Aside from this, this research project encompasses graduate theses and senior design project for undergraduate engineering students, so we are hoping to publish informative explainer videos, demonstrations, and peer-reviewed publications to broaden the impact of our work.

Where can people find your work?

My research and related videos through my company HERO Energy & Engineering.