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Integration of Renewable Energy and Plug-In Electric Vehicles into Power Networks

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "E: Electric Vehicles".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 July 2023) | Viewed by 9155

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Reza Razi

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Guest Editor

University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, GIPSA-Lab, 38000 Grenoble, France
Interests: power electronics; microgrids; renewable energy systems; plug-in electric vehicle

Prof. Dr. Ahmad Hably

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G2ELab, 38000 Grenoble, France
Interests: control; optimization; energy systems; robotics

Dr. Mehrdad Gholami

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G2ELab, 38000 Grenoble, France
Interests: power electronics; renewable energy resources; energy storage systems; electromagnetic systems and actuators; electrical machine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growth and development of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy, has become increasingly evident in recent years. However, power generation in these sources is intermittent due to its dependence on climatic conditions. For instance, analysis of power generation capacity in PV arrays shows that energy acquisition is possible only on sunny days, and the highest production is usually close to noon.

On the other hand, today, the market of plug-in electric vehicles is more popular than ever and is moving with astonishing progress. One of the main reasons for this tangible progress is the important challenge of traditional vehicles, namely environmental pollution, along with the development and price reduction in technology related to PEVs. However, the pattern of using and charging of PEVs usually follows the same trend for different people. In fact, PEVs are mostly charged at the workplace in the early morning or at home in the early evening. Thus, replacing a large portion of the transportation fleet with PEVs and the significant increase in electricity demand for them in specific locations and at short intervals poses serious challenges to the grid in the near future, especially during peak hours.

Hence, it is important to propose new strategies for optimal power management called smart charging. In fact, electric vehicles are used about 10% of their lifetime for transportation on average, and the rest are parked, which increases their availability for smart charging. In other words, smart charging means the cooperation between the PV power production, PEV charging, and existing electricity consumption in a way that brings technical and economic benefits.

Dr. Reza Razi
Prof. Dr. Ahmad Hably
Dr. Mehrdad Gholami
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

Renewable energy
Plug-in electric vehicles
Energy storage systems
Smart charging
Microgrids

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 6319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Effects of Smart Parking Infrastructure on the Electrical Power System

by Dusan Medved, Lubomir Bena, Maksym Oliinyk, Jaroslav Dzmura, Damian Mazur and David Martinko

Energies 2023, 16(14), 5343; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145343 - 13 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 869

Abstract

The forthcoming surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption demands the comprehensive advancement of associated charging infrastructure. In this study, an exploration of EV charging’s impact on the power distribution system is conducted via the simulation of a parking lot equipped with six distinct types of EVs, each showcasing unique charging curves, charging power, and battery capacities. A charging profile is synthesized and compared with laboratory-obtained data to ascertain the implications on the grid. To further understand the effects of smart parking on the power distribution system, a mathematical algorithm was created and applied to a segment of an urban electrical grid that includes 70 private residences. Basic electrical parameters were computed using the node voltage method. Four scenarios were simulated: (1) the existing distribution system, (2) the current system plus smart parking, (3) the current system plus 50% of houses equipped with 3.5 kW photovoltaic installations, and (4) the current system plus photovoltaics and smart parking. This paper examines the core distribution system parameters, namely voltage and current, across these four scenarios, and the simulation results are extensively detailed herein. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Renewable Energy and Plug-In Electric Vehicles into Power Networks)

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19 pages, 4840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Energy Harvesting: A Gain-Scheduled Braking System for Electric Vehicles with Enhanced State of Charge and Efficiency

by Anith Khairunnisa Ghazali, Mohd Khair Hassan, Mohd Amran Mohd Radzi and Azizan As’arry

Energies 2023, 16(12), 4561; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124561 - 07 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 907

Abstract

Recycling braking energy is crucial in increasing the overall energy efficiency of an electric vehicle. Regenerative braking system (RBS) technology makes a significant contribution, but it is quite challenging to design an optimal braking force distribution while ensuring vehicle stability and battery health. In this study, a parallel-distribution braking system that transfers as much energy as possible from the wheel to the battery was investigated. An integrated braking force distribution with gain-scheduling super-twisting sliding mode control (GSTSMC) was proposed to capture the maximum kinetic energy during braking and convert it into electrical energy. Parallel friction and regenerative braking ratios dominate the design of the braking component, which is based on the speed of the vehicle. A GSTSMC was implemented and incorporated into the vehicle dynamics model developed in the ADVISOR environment. Simulation was utilized to rigorously validate the efficacy of the proposed control strategy, ensuring its potential to perform optimally in practical applications. Consideration was given to the vehicle’s slip ratio on dry asphalt to maintain vehicle stability. Simulation results were used to validate the performance of the proposed design in terms of the state of charge (SOC), transmitted energy, motor efficiency, battery temperature, and slip ratio. Based on the results, the proposed control strategy is capable of increasing the SOC value to 54%, overall efficiency to 25.98%, energy transmitted to 14.27%, and energy loss to 87 kJ while considering the vehicle’s speed-tracking ability, battery temperature, and stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Renewable Energy and Plug-In Electric Vehicles into Power Networks)

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23 pages, 1701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Critical Comparison of Li-Ion Aging Models for Second Life Battery Applications

by Sai Vinayak Ganesh and Matilde D’Arpino

Energies 2023, 16(7), 3023; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16073023 - 26 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1848

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) from electrified vehicles (EVs) that have reached the automotive end of life (EoL) may provide a low-cost, highly available energy storage solution for grid-connected systems, such as peak shaving and ancillary services. There are several issues related to the integration of second life batteries (SLBs) in power systems, such as the variability of the pack design and cell chemistry, in-field assessments of the state of health (SoH), and estimations of the expected lifetimes of SLBs in different power system applications. Model-based approaches are commonly used in the automotive industry for estimating/predicting the capacity and power fade trajectories of LIBs during their life. However, a large variety of models are available with different fidelities, complexities, and computational costs. The accuracy of these estimations is critical for the derivation of business models for SLB applications. This paper presents a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the performance of two well-accepted, state-of-the-art aging models, initially developed for automotive applications and here applied to different SLB applications to predict both the capacity and power fade. These models are evaluated with respect to several performance metrics, such as fidelity of estimation and capability of extrapolation outside the calibration data range. The considered models are classified as semi-empirical physics-based and empirical models, respectively. Three different SLB power profiles, bulk energy for DC fast charge stations and two frequency regulation profiles, are considered, corresponding to different ranges of the SoC, C-rates, and battery temperatures, with the aim of exciting different aging mechanisms. The numerical results provide insight for the selection of aging models for SLB applications based on their performances and limitations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Renewable Energy and Plug-In Electric Vehicles into Power Networks)

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17 pages, 1972 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

SGAM-Based Analysis for the Capacity Optimization of Smart Grids Utilizing e-Mobility: The Use Case of Booking a Charge Session

by Moisés Antón García, Ana Isabel Martínez García, Stylianos Karatzas, Athanasios Chassiakos and Olympia Ageli

Energies 2023, 16(5), 2489; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16052489 - 06 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1427

Abstract

The description of the functionality of a smart grid’s architectural concept, analyzing different Smart Grid (SG) scenarios without disrupting the smooth operation of the individual processes, is a major challenge. The field of smart energy grids has been increasing in complexity since there are many stakeholder entities with diverse roles. Electric Vehicles (EVs) can transform the stress on the energy grid into an opportunity to act as a flexible asset. Smart charging through an external control system can have benefits for the energy sector, both in grid management and environmental terms. A suitable model for analyzing and visualizing smart grid use cases in a technology-neutral manner is required. This paper presents a flexible architecture for the potential implementation of electromobility as a distributed storage asset for the grid’s capacity optimization by applying the Use Case and Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM) methodologies. The use case scenario of booking a charge session through a mobile application, as part of the TwinERGY Horizon 2020 project, is deployed to structure the SGAM framework layers and investigate the applicability of the SGAM framework in the integration of electromobility as a distributed storage asset into electricity grids with the objective of enhanced flexibility and decarbonization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Renewable Energy and Plug-In Electric Vehicles into Power Networks)

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Review

Jump to: Research

39 pages, 4557 KiB

Open AccessReview

Comprehensive Review Based on the Impact of Integrating Electric Vehicle and Renewable Energy Sources to the Grid

by Pampa Sinha, Kaushik Paul, Sanchari Deb and Sulabh Sachan

Energies 2023, 16(6), 2924; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16062924 - 22 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3092

Abstract

Global warming, pollution, and the depletion of fossil fuels have compelled human beings to explore alternate sources of energy and cleaner modes of transport. In recent years, renewable energy sources (RES) have been massively introduced to the grid. Furthermore, Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming popular as a cleaner mode of transport. However, the introduction of RESs and EVs to the grid has imposed additional challenges on the grid operators because of their random nature. This review aims to focus on the integration of RES and EVs to the grid, thereby presenting the global status of RESs and EVs, the impact of integrating RESs and EVs to the grid, the challenges of integrating RES and EV to the grid, optimization techniques for EV and RES integration to the grid, and mitigation techniques. A total of 153 research papers are meticulously reviewed, and the findings are put forward in this review. Thus, this review will put forward the latest developments in the area of EV and RES integration into the grid and will enlighten the researchers with the unsolved questions in the area that need investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Renewable Energy and Plug-In Electric Vehicles into Power Networks)

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