Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Nissan, and Fermata Energy have launched a groundbreaking demonstration that integrates electric vehicles with bidirectional charging and advanced automation to provide frequency regulation and strengthen grid resiliency.
The collaboration uses Fermata Energy’s Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) optimization platform in combination with two 2020–2021 Nissan LEAF vehicles and four FE-20 bidirectional chargers. After successful testing at PG&E’s Applied Technology Services Center in San Ramon, the full system has now been deployed at the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid (RCAM) in McKinleyville, California.
Implemented together with the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt and the Humboldt County Aviation Division, this pilot marks the first time automated frequency response capabilities have been demonstrated using EVs within a multi-customer microgrid—showcasing how vehicle batteries can support grid stability while enhancing local energy resilience.
”Integrating bidirectional chargers and EVs at the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid is an innovative solution that will expand the capacity of the site, extending the capability for powering the airport during local grid outages and providing another clean energy resource for ensuring statewide grid stability,” said Mike Delaney, Vice President, Utility Partnerships and Innovation, PG&E. “The project showcases innovative Vehicle-to-Microgrid (V2M) technologies and demonstrates how EVs can support local energy needs and grid resilience.”
