Determining the Ability of Distributed Generation to Relieve Stress Placed on the Grid by Electric Vehicle Charging
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Date
2016-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
The increased penetration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) within the market presents the challenge of how to best integrate and charge these vehicles without causing undue stress to the grid. Public charging, in particular, fast DC charging technologies can cause stress to the grid, including voltage deviations, increased loading, and power losses, leading municipal utilities to hesitate on approval. Distributed Generation (DG) provides a generation source closer to the load, which can offset these stresses. These DG units can be coupled with the installation of charging stations, providing on-site electricity supply; multiple DGs can be used in situations where on-site DG is not feasible. While the goal of EVs is to obtain a more environmentally friendly way of transportation, the electricity used to charge them must have a quick ramp up speed and, thus, is generated by coal plants. However, DG, generating locally, from renewable sources and with cleaner technology, has great potential to relieve stress to the grid as an alternative to conventional power plants, while also helping reach the goal of “green” transportation. The purpose of this project is to determine DG’s capability of relieving EV induced stress onto the grid and to investigate strategies maximizing this benefit. Through the use of Ladder Iterative Power flow techniques, an accepted methodology, and simulations of a standard IEEE-37 bus system via MATLAB and GridLAB-D, DG units are proven to reduce voltage deviations and power losses and counter increased loading caused by EV charging stations in a way that is more beneficial that simply increasing the capacity generated on the generation side of the grid. Though many have studied the effects of both DG installation and EV charging station installation, no studies have paired these losses with EV charging station installation, DG’s ability to alleviate issues, or the correlation between decreased losses and a reduction in pollution. Pollution calculations based upon the power losses within various cases of a distribution system also prove that DG can reduce losses and other stresses, while also reducing the pollution caused by increasing the capacity of the grid to meet the demand of EV charging. Through optimizing generating capacity and location of various DG units, a helpful model is provided for utilities to more readily accept the increased demand for EV charging facilities by utilizing DG. These findings can help increase the adoption rate of EVs, thus reducing non-renewable fuel consumption, while also ensuring minimal stress to the electric grid and adding more renewable generation to the electric generation portfolio.
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Keywords
Distributed Generation, Electric Vehicles, Power Losses, Voltage Deviation, Feeder Loading, Pollution