Clean Energy

Helping EV drivers choose greener times to charge.

API IntegrationClean TechData VisualisationR&DWeb Application Development
Greener Charge logo on an abstract purple background

Greener Charge helps electric vehicle owners decide whether to charge tonight or wait for a lower-carbon window. Built around National Energy System Operator forecast data, the web app makes carbon intensity clear enough to act on and shows how small timing changes can reduce charging-related emissions by up to 25%.

Client:
Greener Charge
25% potential reduction in charging-related emissions
Hourly forecast updates using National Energy System Operator data
2024 grid data used to simulate charging behaviour
UK carbon intensity forecasts translated into charging guidance

The challenge

Electric vehicle adoption is growing rapidly. While EV drivers have already reduced their transport emissions significantly, most charging still happens without visibility into how clean the grid is at that moment.

Carbon intensity in the UK varies daily, largely due to changing wind conditions and energy mix. We identified an opportunity: if EV owners had simple, reliable insight into these variations, they could make better-informed decisions about when to charge.

The challenge was to turn complex carbon intensity forecasts into a clear, actionable tool that anyone could understand in seconds.

Our approach

Using the National Energy System Operator's Carbon Intensity API, we built a lightweight web application that compares the forecast carbon intensity for tonight against tomorrow night.

The interface is intentionally simple. It answers one core question: is it greener to charge tonight, or should you wait?

Behind the scenes, the application updates hourly with the latest forecast data to ensure users are making decisions based on current information. We also conducted simulations using 2024 grid data, comparing daily charging behaviour against selective charging based on Greener Charge's recommendations.

The results were clear. Users who followed the guidance could reduce their charging-related carbon emissions by approximately 25% across the year.

Results and impact

Greener Charge demonstrates how small digital interventions can drive measurable environmental impact.

By providing accessible carbon intensity data in a clear format, the platform empowers EV owners to align their behaviour with their environmental intentions. The application shows that meaningful emissions reductions can be achieved without changing vehicles, infrastructure, or cost, simply by shifting timing.

The project also strengthened our expertise in carbon intensity APIs and real-time energy data integration, supporting our wider work in the clean tech and sustainability sector.

Looking ahead

Greener Charge represents an important step in our commitment to building practical sustainability tools.

As grid data becomes richer and EV adoption accelerates, there is significant opportunity to expand decision-support tools that encourage low-carbon behaviours. We are continuing to explore opportunities in the clean tech space, applying digital innovation to real-world sustainability challenges.