Simultaneous Distributed Generation and Electric Vehicles Hosting Capacity Assessment in Electric Distribution Systems

This work presents a strategy, from the perspective of the distribution system operator (DSO), that aims at simultaneously estimating the maximum penetration levels of renewable-based distributed generation (DG) and electric vehicles (EVs) that can be accommodated into an electric distribution system (EDS). To estimate such capacity, operational resources such as generation curtailment and controllable features of EVs can be managed to ensure the safe operation of the EDS and avoid infeasible operational conditions. Through a multi-period representation, the proposed strategy models the variability in demand consumption and DG power production. In addition, driving patterns of EV owners and energy requirements of EVs, obtained through probability density functions, are incorporated in this representation. Inherently, the problem is represented as an optimization model, and to determine its solution, an algorithm based on the metaheuristics greedy randomized adaptive search and tabu search (GRASP-TS) is developed. The applicability of the planning strategy is assessed on a 33-bus EDS under different test conditions and the numerical results show that higher penetrations of EVs and renewable-based DG can be accommodated without impacting the safe operation of the EDS. The results also demonstrate that by controlling the power draw by EV aggregators, an increase of 9% can be obtained in the DG installed capacity compared to the case of uncontrolled charging of EVs. In addition, the scalability of the proposed approach is studied using two distribution systems, the 83-bus system and the 135-bus system, where the results show that the convergence of the algorithm is achieved in a few iterations.

Automated summary

This study presents a strategy for estimating the maximum penetration levels of renewable-based distributed generation and electric vehicles into an electric distribution system from the perspective of the distribution system operator. By managing operational resources and utilizing optimization models, higher penetrations of renewable-based distributed generation and electric vehicles can be accommodated without impacting the safe operation of the system.