Utilizing Electric Vehicles to Assist Integration of Large Penetrations of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation Capacity

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EDT 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1060681· OSTI ID:1060681

Tuffner, Francis K. ^[1]; Chassin, Forrest S. ^[1]; Kintner-Meyer, Michael C.W. ^[1]; Gowri, Krishnan ^[1]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

This analysis provides detailed distribution-level insights into the leveraging potential of distributed rooftop photovoltaic (PV) technologies and electric vehicle (EV) charging. Either of the two technologies by themselves – at some high penetrations – may cause some voltage control challenges or overloading problems, respectively. But when combined, there could be synergistic effects, at least intuitively, whereby one technology mitigates the negative impacts of the other. High penetration of EV charging may overload existing distribution system components, most prominently the secondary transformer. If PV technology is installed at residential premises or anywhere downstream of the secondary transformer, it will provide another electricity source, thus relieving the loading on the transformers. Another synergetic or mitigating effect could be envisioned when high PV penetration reverses the power flow upward in the distribution system (from the homes upstream into the distribution system). Protection schemes may then no longer function as designed and voltage violations (exceeding the voltage upper limit of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) voltage range) may occur. In this particular situation, EV charging could consume the generated energy from the PV, such that the reversal of power flow can be reduced or alleviated. Given these potential mutual synergistic behaviors of PV and EV technologies, this project attempted to quantify the benefits of combining the two technologies.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1060681
• Report Number(s): PNNL--22064; VT1301000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English