REN and Siemens Energy establish an International Licensing Agreement for the electric mobility grid connection solution, SPEED-E

REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), operator of the Portuguese electricity and natural gas transmission networks, and Siemens Energy (SE), signed today, July 26th, an International Licensing Agreement for the SPEED-E solution, developed and patented by REN.

The agreement between REN and SE has a duration of five years and grants SE exclusive rights to commercialize and implement the SPEED-E solution in projects worldwide, except in the Iberian Peninsula, where REN can sell the technology to other partners that might want to operate it.

SPEED-E is an innovative solution that enables the charging of electric vehicles through a direct connection to the electricity transmission network, i.e. Very High Voltage transmission lines. By enabling a direct connection to the transmission network, in addition to providing significant power for electric vehicle charging, the solution enables the expansion of charging infrastructure to locations where the transmission network is present, which in Portugal equates to approximately 9,000 km. The solution allows for the simultaneous power supply to multiple fast and/or ultra-fast chargers, and its modular architecture enables appropriate scaling to meet clients' power needs and facilitates future project scalability, keeping pace with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles.

According to João Faria Conceição, COO of REN, “This partnership represents an important step for the implementation of electric charging projects using our SPEED-E solution, both nationally and internationally. REN and Siemens Energy already have a long-standing relationship as partners in the development of electrical infrastructure, and we are confident that their extensive experience in equipment and integrated solutions for energy systems and their global presence will significantly boost the commercial deployment of the SPEED-E solution. We believe that SPEED-E will play a role in promoting a comprehensive electric charging infrastructure, positively contributing to the decarbonization of society.”

Milena Ramos Subires, Vice President of Grid Technologies Service at Siemens Energy, said: “The energy transition requires efforts in all areas, especially in our transmission infrastructure. By connecting our existing transmission grids with electric vehicles, we are giving a huge boost to the decarbonization of mobility, a crucial step needed to achieve our climate goals. This partnership is a great next step in the rich relationship between REN and Siemens Energy.”

The solution developed by REN has been repeatedly recognized by entities in the energy and mobility sectors. In 2022, it won the 'Good Practice of the Year' award in the 'Technological Innovation and System Integration' category, awarded by the Renewables Grid Initiative. It was also the winner in the 'Charging & Energy' category at the sixth edition of eMove360º, one of the world's leading 4.0 mobility fairs.

Earlier this year, REN signed a memorandum of understanding with Atlante, an Italian multinational dedicated to the development, construction, and operation of fast and ultra-fast electric vehicle charging stations, to develop five projects in Portugal using the SPEED-E solution in electric charging stations.

One of REN's strategic pillars is its commitment to Research, Development, and Innovation (R&DI), with the aim of developing and presenting solutions that effectively and efficiently meet national and European energy objectives, supporting efforts to address climate change challenges and contributing to REN's excellent performance in terms of energy supply security and quality.