An energy aggregator brings together smaller energy resources and coordinates them so they can participate in larger flexibility opportunities.
In EV charging, this can mean managing charging activity across multiple vehicles, chargers, homes or commercial sites.
How does an energy aggregator work?
An aggregator typically:
- Connects to eligible energy assets, such as EV chargers and other flexible resources.
- Monitors their availability and operating conditions.
- Coordinates changes in electricity consumption or export.
- Responds to relevant flexibility or market signals.
- Measures and reports the resulting performance.
By combining multiple resources, an aggregator can make distributed flexibility easier to coordinate and access.
Why are aggregators important for EV charging?
EVs are spread across homes, workplaces, fleets and public charging locations.
Managing each vehicle independently would make large-scale flexibility difficult. Aggregation helps coordinate many smaller charging loads into a more manageable resource.
This can support:
- Participation in flexibility services.
- More coordinated charging across multiple locations.
- Responses to grid and energy-market signals.
- V2G opportunities where bidirectional charging is supported.
Participation depends on asset eligibility, driver consent, charger compatibility and the requirements of each service.
What is the role of software?
Aggregation requires more than connecting chargers. Software needs to understand which assets are available, coordinate charging behaviour, respond to signals and measure performance.
It also needs to account for practical requirements such as vehicle departure times, charging needs and site electricity limits.
How does Electric Miles support EV flexibility aggregation?
Electric Miles’ SmartFlex platform coordinates eligible EV charging for participation in flexibility opportunities.
Its market activity includes integration across all six UK DNOs, NESO services and wholesale-market participation. SmartFlex also supports V2G trading where compatible bidirectional charging infrastructure is available.
Electric Miles reports more than 16,000 SmartFlex events dispatched and 11,000+ flexibility responses delivered.
This gives Electric Miles a role in coordinating distributed EV charging resources for the wider energy system.
Explore Electric Miles SmartFlex.
Frequently asked questions
Is an energy aggregator the same as an energy supplier?
No. An energy supplier sells electricity to customers. An aggregator coordinates flexible energy resources, although some organisations may perform both roles.
Can an EV owner participate through an aggregator?
Potentially. Participation depends on the programme, vehicle and charger compatibility, permissions and eligibility requirements.
Do aggregators only work with EVs?
No. They can coordinate different flexible resources, including batteries, commercial energy loads and other controllable assets.