The Objective
This research was commissioned by Enodes, a company dedicated to making Dutch real estate more sustainable through strategic advice.
Enodes received an assignment from the Municipality of Lelystad to investigate Noordersluis, a local business park. The challenge was critical: how to supply as much electricity as possible from PV (solar) sources to the park despite facing severe net congestion.
Enodes identified Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) as a key solution to create a viable business case. My task was to create a communication tool that could explain this complex application to sustainability officials and entity owners.
Research & Design Process
1. Investigating the Ecosystem
I began by mapping how V2G actually works within the Noordersluis context. This involved sketching the energy flows and understanding the concept of "peak shaving." Crucially, research highlighted that EV owners are a primary stakeholder—their willingness to participate is the linchpin of the entire system.
2. Design Principles
Based on literature research, I established five core pillars for the animation: Clarity, Coherency, Conciseness, Engagement, and Unity. These principles guided every storyboard decision to ensure the complex message was digestible.
3. Creating the Story
The final animation, titled "Can V2G solve net congestion?", provides an unbiased narrative. It defines the problem (net congestion), visualizes the solution (energy flow in the park), and honestly addresses both the advantages and the current challenges of implementation.
Evaluation & Impact
The product was validated through user evaluations with a diverse panel: sustainability officials, EV owners, V2G experts, and communication specialists.
Enodes received the tool positively, noting it was "clear, coherent, and visually attractive." The validation scores confirmed this success, with sustainability officials finding it highly relevant.
Rated by EV owners, PV facility owners, and V2G experts.