Search

Grid operators have to cope with secure electric vehicles integration in the power system, which may lead to violations of the allowed voltage band. This work intends to provide an analytical assessment and guidelines for distribution system operators when evaluating new electric vehicle supply equipment installations with fast charging capability in existing low voltage distribution feeders. The aim is to prevent the voltage to exceed the permitted values when charging at high power, by exploiting the effect of reactive power. The contribution of each power component in distribution grids is analyzed, including the loads’ voltage-dependency, which influences the effectiveness of reactive power control. The proposed guidelines indicate the amount of capacitive reactive power that an individual electric vehicle supply equipment is expected to provide, in order to effectively manage the voltage rise. The proposed method is validated on the Cigrè benchmark low voltage distribution network as well as on a real Danish low voltage grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing environmental concerns are driving an evolution of the energy system in which electric vehicles (EVs) play an important role. Still, as the EV number increases, the adverse impact of charging is observed more widely, especially at the low-voltage level where high EV concentrations cause various detrimental effects due to the coincidence between EV charging and residential peak load. However, if managed properly, EVs become flexible resources which can improve the system operation, making them an attractive asset for the distribution system operator. With the recent technology development, new forms of local EV support can be developed, provided that an appropriate regulatory framework is established. Whereas the technical value of such EV distribution grid services has already been proven, integrating them into the European regulatory context is not straightforward. In the context where active distribution grid management schemes are still to be developed, it is important to recognise the barriers for active EV involvement in the early stage of the development. This manuscript focuses on identifying these barriers from a technology and infrastructure perspective as well as from the regulatory and market aspect. Various policy recommendations are provided for the stakeholders involved in the EV value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]