Maximising the Workplace Charging Scheme: How Solar PV and Battery Storage Can Support Free and Paid EV Charging Options for Schools and Businesses
As more schools and businesses embrace the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is providing valuable support to make EV charging infrastructure more accessible. But what if you could go beyond just providing charging points for employees and teachers? By adding solar PV with battery storage to your roof, you can generate your own clean energy, reduce your energy bills, and even open up new income streams, all while continuing to support sustainability initiatives.
Solar Power Meets the Workplace Charging Scheme
The WCS provides financial support for installing EV charging points, covering up to 75% of the installation costs, and is a great first step towards electrifying your fleet or offering EV charging to your staff. But when paired with solar PV and battery storage, the benefits expand exponentially.
Solar panels generate electricity from the sun, while battery storage stores this energy for later use, meaning you can charge EVs and run your operations using self-generated renewable energy. This can reduce your reliance on the grid and help mitigate rising electricity prices, making your energy supply more secure and cost-effective.
Free and Paid Charging Options: How to Get the Most Out of Your Setup
With the combination of solar PV, battery storage, and the WCS, you can create a flexible charging system that offers both free and paid options for different users.
1. Employee/Teacher Charging Area
One of the key advantages is the ability to offer free or subsidised charging to employees or teachers. By using the electricity generated by your solar panels, you can offer a sustainable and cost-effective solution for staff to charge their EVs while supporting your green initiatives. You can even choose to charge employees a small fee to help cover the costs of the installation or provide it for free as an added benefit.
2. Public Charging Area for External Customers
In addition to offering charging points for staff, you could designate a section of your charging infrastructure for external customers to use for a fee. This is a great way to maximise the use of your EV charge points during non-working hours. External customers can park and charge their vehicles while contributing to your revenue, helping to offset the cost of your solar PV system and even creating an income stream for your school or business.
By setting up a pay-to-charge option for the public, you have the flexibility to offer competitive pricing while maintaining free access for staff. The beauty of this setup is the ability to separate the two charging areas, ensuring that employees or teachers can always access their charging points without any additional cost, while external customers can be charged for usage.
Additional Benefits of Solar PV with Battery Storage
- Energy Independence:
By generating your own electricity, you reduce your reliance on the grid, offering a more sustainable energy solution. - Sustainability:
Solar power is a clean energy source, and by integrating it with EV charging, you can showcase your commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. - Financial Savings:
With a combination of solar energy and battery storage, you could reduce your energy bills significantly, making your investment in EV chargers more economical in the long run. - Grid Support:
During periods of low usage, your solar system can generate excess energy that can be sold back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), adding another potential revenue stream.
How Richmond Renewables Can Help
We understand the importance of building a sustainable, cost-effective infrastructure. Richmond Renewables offers tailored solar PV and battery storage solutions that work seamlessly alongside your WCS-funded EV charging points. Our expert team can provide consultations, design a custom system for your site, and handle installation, ensuring everything runs smoothly from start to finish.
By integrating solar PV, battery storage, and the WCS, you’ll not only help power your business or school with clean energy, but also unlock new ways to save money and generate income.
Contact Richmond Renewables today to learn more about how we can help you create a green, profitable energy solution for your business or school.