Real Time Scheduling of a Microgrid Equipped with Ultra-Fast Charging Stations

Ultra-fast charging infrastructures are gaining increasing interest thanks to their ability to reduce the charging-time of plug-in electric vehicles to values comparable to those of the refueling of traditional vehicles in gas stations. This is a consequence of the increasing rated power of both on-board batteries and charging equipment. On the other hand, the increased values of charging power have led to an increased impact on the power distribution networks, particularly in terms of line currents and bus voltages. In presence of large penetration of ultra-fast charging devices, in fact, both currents and voltages are affected by larger variations whose values can exceed the admissible limits imposed by the technical constraints and by the levels of quality of service. In order to reduce the impact of this typology of vehicles' charging on the electrical infrastructure, in this paper a methodology is presented which allows managing a microgrid in presence of ultra-fast charging stations by satisfying the constraints of the grid, while preserving the expected short charging-time for electric vehicles. To this end, a proper optimal strategy is proposed which coordinates the demands of electric vehicles and of the other loads of the microgrid with the power provided by the renewable energy generation resources. The proposed approach aims to optimally control the active and reactive power of charging stations and renewable generation units and to minimize the charging time of a fleet of plug-in electric vehicles while satisfying the constraints on the technical aspects and on the quality of service. The proposed approach has been tested on a test system and the results, proposed in the last part of the paper, demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.

Automated summary

Ultra-fast charging infrastructures have become increasingly popular due to their ability to significantly reduce charging time for electric vehicles. However, the higher charging power has a greater impact on power distribution networks, affecting line currents and bus voltages. This paper presents a methodology to manage a microgrid with ultra-fast charging stations, satisfying grid constraints while maintaining short charging time. The proposed approach optimally coordinates demand from electric vehicles and other loads with power provided by renewable energy sources, minimizing charging time while meeting technical and quality of service constraints. Results from testing the approach on a system demonstrate its feasibility.