Dynamic phase switching for solar EV charging

Dynamic Phase Switching Enables Maximum Solar Charging

The Dutch start-up BlueBird Power has reached a technical and operational milestone with more than 2,000 self-managed smart charging points. Its charging solutions use dynamic phase switching to charge electric vehicles directly with locally generated solar energy. This helps homeowners maximise self-consumption while addressing the growing challenges of grid congestion.

Direct solar charging

The charging stations from BlueBird Power are designed to store solar energy directly in an electric vehicle’s battery without first sending the electricity back through the grid.

By charging directly from locally generated solar power, homeowners can significantly increase their use of renewable energy. On sunny days, many users can charge their vehicles largely—or even entirely—using electricity produced by their solar panels.

A key feature of the system is its ability to continuously adjust the charging speed according to the available solar energy. Because no additional grid electricity needs to be mixed into the charging process, existing solar installations can be used more efficiently without requiring an upgraded grid connection.

The BlueSky Tethered Home Charger and BlueSky Socket Home Charger both support solar-optimised charging.

How dynamic phase switching works

One of the most important innovations from BlueBird Power is its dynamic phase switching technology.

Many conventional three-phase chargers require a minimum charging power of approximately 4.2 kW before they can operate entirely on solar energy. When solar production falls below this threshold, electricity from the grid is normally added to the charging process.

The charging stations automatically switch between single-phase and three-phase charging. This enables stable charging when solar generation is limited or fluctuates during the day.

Dynamic phase switching makes the technology suitable for homes with smaller or variable solar installations. It can also simplify integration into existing home electrical systems.

Homeowners can monitor energy usage, solar production and charging sessions through the BlueBird Power app.

Supporting a smarter energy grid

By charging automatically during periods of high local solar generation, the charging stations can help reduce peak demand on the electricity grid.

When combined with dynamic electricity tariffs, charging sessions can also be scheduled during less expensive periods of the day. This can provide additional savings for homeowners.

Developed, produced and assembled in the Netherlands, the charging solutions are designed for integration into existing home installations. Together with energy suppliers and installation partners, the company aims to support a more resilient and sustainable energy system in which locally generated renewable energy is used as efficiently as possible.

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