Optimizing an electricity contract to save money while also alleviating the grid

Sammanfattning: In this study, the usage of charging posts at S:t Eriks torg in Uppsala was investigated with a goal of reducing the energy consumption and thereby decrease electricity costs for UPAB, but also to alleviate the grid because of Uppsala grid’s capacity shortage. Using energy consumption data from the parking lot, we processed the information, analyzed the data, and identified trends and patterns to gather a basis for problem solving. The results showed that the highest peaks occur on Sundays but that the average consumption for a Sunday is only 10% above the average for all weekdays. To reach our goal, three ideas were devised. One solution to reach the goal could be to bill the consumer per kWh during working hours to generate revenue, another was to install solar panels which would both save money and alleviate the grid, and lastly to use a battery and implement some form of peak shaving. Billing per kWh proved both cost efficient and easy to implement, whereas solar panels are more expensive initially but alleviates the grid more. Batteries were found to be a non-viable solution. Our conclusion was that for S:t Eriks torg, which is a small parking lot, billing per kWh would be the best solution and solar panels would be disproportionally expensive in relation to the yearly costs for the parking lot. However, solar panels should be considered for larger parking lots where the toll on the grid is more noticeable, therefore saving money while also alleviating the grid.