Car parks can become an important asset in the power grid

The new Sege Park car park in Malmö is equipped with a smart solar and battery system that makes it possible to deal with the growing need for charging points, but can also relieve and balance an overstressed network.

In the new Sege Park parking garage in Malmö, 120 charging points were equipped, of which 70 are in operation today. This can mean a significant capacity challenge locally, but through a holistic approach to electricity delivery, Parkering Malmö has created a solution that provides more efficient use of electricity and contributes to making the electricity grid more resilient.

supplier to the power grid

The roof of the carport is equipped with solar cells with an area of ​​1,400 square meters. These are connected to a feature battery with intelligent power usage control. This makes the Sege Park car park an energy node, which becomes a resource for the electricity grid rather than a burden, says Amir Ahmadi, Parkering Malmö’s new production manager.

For Parkering Malmö, it is about reducing the total need to import electricity from the power grid, relieving the power grid when it is most strained and reducing its carbon footprint by being able to charge the battery when there is a large supply of renewable energy.

Intelligent electrical system

Behind the solution is green tech company Ferroamp, whose smart electric micro-grid on the property controls solar panels, electric vehicle charging and energy storage so utility is maximized.

– Our system makes it possible to control the use of electricity and optimize it according to the needs of both the car park and the municipality. The idea is that it should also be able to be directly controlled by the municipality in order to contribute to balance and flexibility services for both the local network owner and Svenska kraftnät, says Fredrik Breitung, acting CEO, Ferroamp.

This is how it works

It is about the control and storage of electricity based on the pressure on the electricity grid. When the pressure on the grid is low, the property’s battery can be charged from the mains. When several cars are charging at the same time, the system can be set so that self-produced electricity from the solar cells is used to recharge the battery. This saves money and network capacity.

European Cooperation Project

The installation is part of the European collaborative project Access, showcasing innovative solutions to reduce climate footprint and electricity costs with the aim of more people following suit.

This technical solution is fully aligned with the city’s climate action and energy strategy. In Malmö, there are periodic power shortages with high electricity prices and carbon dioxide emissions as a result. If all goes well with this pilot project, the solution could be used in parking lots or other real estate, says Hanna Axelsson, project manager at the environmental department in the city of Malmö.