Optimal Management of an Integrated Electric Vehicle Charging Station under Weather Impacts

Abstract

The focus of this Dissertation is on developing an optimal management of what is called the “Integrated Electric Vehicle Charging Station” (IEVCS) comprising the charging stations for the Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs), renewable (solar) power generation resources, and fixed battery energy storage in the buildings. The reliability and availability of the electricity supply caused by severe weather elements are affecting utility customers with such integrated facilities. The proposed management approach allows such a facility to be coordinated to mitigate the potential impact of weather condition on customers electricity supply, and to provide warnings for the customers and utilities to prepare for the potential electricity supply loss. The risk assessment framework can be used to estimate and mitigate such impacts. With proper control of photovoltaic (PV) generation, PEVs with mobile battery storage and fixed energy storage, customers’ electricity demand could be potentially more flexible, since they can choose to charge the vehicles when the grid load demand is light, and stop charging or even supply energy back to the grid or buildings when the grid load demand is high. The PV generation capacity can be used to charge the PEVs, fixed battery energy storage system (BESS) or supply power to the grid. Such increased demand flexibility can enable the demand response providers with more options to respond to electricity price changes. The charging stations integration and interfacing can be optimized to minimize the operational cost or support several utility applications.