Energy Storage & Electric Vehicles

As part of the UK Government’s target to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, it has recently announced that from 2030, all new cars and vans powered solely by petrol or diesel engines will be banned in the UK.

Sales of electric vehicles are increasing. However, to reach the above targets, growth of these sales will have to be enormous. This is where the problem lies, as the UK currently does not have enough electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

This will result in a huge demand for home/commercial charging points to cater for these vehicles.

GCL Building Technologies has been installing EV charging points for many years and is committed to championing sustainable technology to protect our planet’s future. 

EV Charging Installation by Highly Qualified Electricians

When it comes to installing EV charge points, GCL has a team of qualified and trained electricians who will install your electric vehicle charging station to the highest possible standards.

There are many electric vehicle charging options available to you, and the choice of different power options can often be confusing. The good news is, we are here to help you understand the benefits of each of these and ensure that the electric vehicle charging station installed is the right one for you. 

Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (OZEV Grant)

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme is a grant from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) that provides a 75% contribution to the cost of one charge point and its installation. The grant is capped at £350 (including VAT) per installation.

The main requirement is that a person owns, leases, or has ordered a qualifying vehicle and has dedicated off-street parking at their property. We will take care of the grant application and installation for you, making EV charging easy and hassle free!

If you’re looking to take advantage of this scheme, you must act quickly as the grant is due to end on 31 March 2022.

For more information, get in touch or visit the OZEV site for advice from the UK Government regarding the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme.

Smart Charging for Managing Energy Usage

Smart charging allows the user (be it a single user with an EV charger at their home or a business owner with multiple chargers) to manage how much energy to give to any plugged-in EV.

The amount used can vary depending on how many people are using electricity at any point in time, putting less stress on the grid. Smart charging also prevents users from exceeding their building's maximum energy capacity, as defined by local grid capacities and their chosen energy tariff.

Microgeneration and Battery Storage Systems

Microgeneration refers to the small-scale generation of electricity by homes, small businesses, and communities. This means anyone who installs solar panels or a domestic wind turbine on their property is involved in microgeneration.

If you are a microgeneration homeowner or small business, using a battery storage system to store excess energy will help you make the most of the electricity generated by your solar panels or wind turbines.

Using a battery storage system minimises the amount of electricity your home or business needs to draw from the grid, making your premises more self-sufficient. The stored energy can then be used during the evenings or on days with poorer weather, which can further reduce your electricity bills.

There are also options to sell excess energy stored in the battery system back to your energy supplier; this is called a Feed-in Tariff.

You can find out more on this UK Government page.

Renewable Energy Infrastructures

As technology partners of Eaton, the multinational power management company, GCL has the capability to provide a comprehensive and fully integrated hardware, software and services offering for ‘building as a grid’. This enables businesses to benefit from future-proofed electrical infrastructure that integrates a variety of renewable energy capabilities and carbon footprint reducing systems.

cropped_gcl_website_image.png

Single Rack Energy Storage Systems

To support building owners and facility managers in solving power management challenges, we will supply and install the advanced Eaton xStorage Compact. This energy storage system helps increase local renewable energy consumption and integrates electric vehicle charging infrastructure on site.

Available in an easy to install single rack version with symmetric charge and discharge, this system is backup ready and includes a control platform with user interface and simple expansion options.

xstorage_compact.png

Your Trusted Electrical Contractors and Resellers

GCL Building Technologies will offer you impartial advice when it comes to your microgeneration, and electric vehicle charging point requirements and options.

Being qualified electricians and members of the Electrical Contractors Association gives you further assurance that all the electrical work is fully warranted and protected by the ECA warranty scheme (for more details, see our Electrical section).

We install fully compliant equipment from the UK's leading manufacturers in a variety of locations, including homes, offices, educational facilities, and health premises throughout the UK. 

GCL is a reseller of the following leading manufacturers of EV Charging and Microgeneration systems:

• Schneider
• Wallbox
• Easee
• PodPoint