‍How Virtual Power Plants are transforming the EV Charging industry

As electric vehicles (EVs) become more widespread and pressure on the grid increases, Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) are emerging as a powerful solution to balance demand, boost profitability, and future-proof EV charging infrastructure.

In this article, we dive into the most critical insights from our latest white paper—highlighting how Charge Point Operators (CPOs) can leverage Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) to overcome grid challenges, unlock new revenue streams, and actively participate in Europe's fast-paced energy transition.

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Understanding Virtual Power Plant

A Virtual Power Plant digitally aggregates distributed energy resources (DERs), such as solar panels, battery storage, wind turbines or EV charging stations, coordinated intelligently to operate as a single production and consumption unit.

Controlled by a centralised digital platform, these resources respond to real-time data. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), decentralised flexibility systems like VPPs “can integrate up to 30% more renewable energy into grids without major infrastructure investment.”  

This dynamic control balances supply and demand, improves grid stability, and monetises flexibility through energy markets. In essence, VPPs turn passive infrastructure into strategic energy assets.

Turn your charging stations into energy assets

With the rise of VPPs, EV charging stations are no longer just consumption points. They become flexibility levers for the grid, capable of responding intelligently to its needs. Thanks to integration with a central platform, they can modulate charging power, delay sessions, or discharge stored energy based on real-time grid signals. These processes, managed by technical aggregators, optimise the system without compromising user experience.

One standout example is Recharge in Sweden, the first CPO worldwide to qualify a public fast-charging network as a Virtual Power Plant. In partnership with FLEXECHARGE and Fever Energy, Recharge aggregated 66 sites and 100 high-power chargers into a controllable portfolio, capable of delivering grid services such as FCR-D within 8 seconds.

The project demonstrated that flexibility can be as valuable, or even more valuable,  than electricity sales themselves. For instance, during the pilot, Recharge reported that “sometimes it makes more financial sense to sell flexibility than to sell electricity.”

This real-world case shows that public charging hubs can genuinely support the energy transition without negative impact on end users

Want to hear the full story? Tune into The Charger Point podcast episode with Recharge, where we discuss how they turned fast chargers into a Virtual Power Plant — and what it means for the future of energy and mobility.

And don’t miss our upcoming webinar: From vision to reality: deploying the first Virtual Power Plant in high-power charging hubs. Join us to learn more about how pioneering CPOs are making this transformation possible.

3 reasons CPOs should adopt VPPs

1. Diversified revenue streams

By participating in flexibility markets, CPOs can monetise load adjustments.  

• In the FCR-D market (SE3, Sweden), operators can generate up to €112 per charge point annually with limited activation.

• In the aFRR market (DK2, Denmark), CPOs can earn up to €455 per charge point annually with only 20% flexibility usage

2. Enhanced grid stability

By smoothing demand peaks, CPOs help absorb renewable energy fluctuations and reduce reliance on polluting backup power during periods of grid stress.

3. Future-proofing infrastructure

With evolving regulations, dynamic pricing, and increased digitalisation, the sector is changing fast. Integrating with a VPP ensures your infrastructure remains adaptable, intelligent, and profitable.

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Key challenges for CPOs in VPP integration

Joining a VPP ecosystem involves navigating:

• Complex business models involving BRPs, BSPs, and technical aggregators

• Maintaining service quality, particularly at fast-charging hubs

• Accurate demand forecasting without compromising user experience

• Tailoring solutions for public versus residential charging

The future of VPPs: Integration is inevitable

The digitalisation of the power grid and the expansion of renewables are reshaping the energy system. In this context, integrating EV charging stations into VPPs is not just ideal, it’s inevitable.

By 2030, EVs are expected to dominate the roads. According to the European Commissioner for Energy, “smart charging stations will no longer be just services but foundational building blocks of tomorrow’s energy networks.” Their role will go far beyond mobility, becoming distributed energy reservoirs. This shift requires smart infrastructure that can dynamically manage loads, interact with the grid, and help maintain overall system balance.

The Nordic experience underlines this shift: Recharge’s qualification of 100 high-power chargers across 66 sites as a VPP is a clear proof point that public fast charging can evolve into dispatchable energy assets.

This shift requires smart infrastructure that can dynamically manage loads, interact with the grid, and maintain overall system balance.

FLEXECHARGE has developed the HARMON-E platform to meet that exact need, enabling CPOs to integrate with VPPs effortlessly while maintaining user satisfaction and accessing new value streams.

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Ready to transform your charging network?

Integrating VPPs reshapes the CPO role. It's no longer just about infrastructure; it's about smart energy management. Generating revenue, lowering costs, and stabilising the grid are just some of the emerging benefits.

Our white paper offers essential guidance on understanding VPPs, identifying the key players involved, and tailoring this solution to your operational needs. With the Recharge case study and practical recommendations, it equips CPOs to make informed decisions and successfully adopt flexibility-based strategies.

👉 Click here to download the full white paper  

🎧 Or tune into The Charger Point podcast episode with Recharge, where we share how CPOs are turning fast chargers into Virtual Power Plants — and what it means for the future of energy and mobility.

📅 Or join our webinar: From vision to reality: deploying the first Virtual Power Plant in high-power charging hubs to explore the next steps in making VPPs a reality for CPOs

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