This paper presents an approach to modeling of renewable energy integration into Smart Grid for Electric Vehicle charging applications.
Integration of renewable energy sources to smart grid is not only the key to smart Electric Vehicle charging but also the most efficient way to manage the distributed energy resources. It enables the ability to control, ease the peak load impacts, and protect distribution network components from being overloaded by Electric Vehicles. Thus, the electricity generation and consumption is managed in more cost effective way.
The developed model is a grid connected solar-assisted Electric Vehicle charging station, with battery bank. It generates electricity using solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays to augment the electricity used to charge the electric vehicles. The battery bank stores electricity from the grid and discharges the stored energy during periods of peak charging demand.
Optimization of the model was done by developing a program written in Visual Basic 2012. The computational results show the economic advantages of this model as well as the anticipated benefits of the smart grid for reduced peak loads, and increased efficiency.
