Parked EVs Turn Airports into Energy Assets

Travelers often focus on the carbon footprint of flights, but the energy consumption of hotels and airports is equally significant. These facilities are among the most energy-intensive in the service sector. Currently, they act primarily as consumers, drawing power from the grid to maintain operations. However, a shift is underway to transform these static locations into active participants in the energy market.

The core of this change involves utilizing the batteries of electric vehicles (EVs) that remain parked for days or weeks. Instead of sitting idle, these batteries can be charged during off-peak hours when electricity is cheap and discharged during peak demand when prices are high. This process helps stabilize the local grid and reduces the financial burden on the facility. For the traveler, the car is returned fully charged, with no additional cost for the energy service.

Smart Charging at Porto Airport

A pilot program at Porto’s Sá Carneiro Airport is testing this model in its long-stay parking area. Operators know the exact arrival and departure times of vehicles booked online. This predictability allows them to schedule charging sessions strategically. Samuel Matias, an R&D manager at EDP, explains that the system charges the car when energy is inexpensive and uses the stored power when demand is high. The vehicle acts as a temporary buffer, smoothing out the energy load for the airport.

Miguel Palma from the airport operator ANA notes that this approach solves multiple problems simultaneously. It accommodates the rising number of EVs, increases the use of renewable energy, and provides real-world data on battery performance. Long-term parking offers a stable environment to test different charging cycles. This helps refine the algorithms that manage how energy flows between the car and the building, ensuring the system is reliable and efficient.

Batteries on Wheels Concept

This technology is part of the European Drive2X project, which aims to accelerate electric mobility by treating cars as mobile energy storage units. The concept, known as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) or Vehicle-to-Building (V2B), allows EVs to send power back into the electrical network. Rather than just consuming electricity, the vehicle interacts with the energy system in both directions. This flexibility can help balance supply and demand, making the overall grid more resilient.

According to GN auto tech/ev, this bidirectional capability is key to integrating electric vehicles into the broader energy infrastructure. The '2X' in the project name refers to the multiple ways cars can interact with the system. By enabling energy flow in both directions, the technology supports the goal of a climate-neutral Europe. It turns a passive asset, the parked car, into an active tool for grid management and decarbonization.

Trade-offs and Practical Limits

While promising, this system requires compatible infrastructure and vehicle standards. Not all EVs support bidirectional charging, and the hardware must be installed at the facility. There is also a trade-off regarding battery health. Frequent deep discharges to support the grid could theoretically accelerate battery degradation. However, operators are carefully managing charge levels to minimize this impact. The goal is to ensure the vehicle remains in good condition for the owner while providing value to the grid.

The economic model depends on accurate price signals and reliable demand forecasting. If the system cannot predict when to charge or discharge, it may fail to capture cost savings or grid benefits. Additionally, the technology is currently in the testing phase, meaning widespread availability is not yet guaranteed. For now, it remains a specialized solution for high-volume, long-stay parking scenarios rather than a universal standard for all electric vehicle users.