Management of diverse smart homes: Coordination among controllable loads, EVs, and PVs

Abstract

Growing energy demand, driven by urbanization, transportation electrification, and smart home devices, highlights the significance of residential electricity consumption. However, controllable loads, including HVAC systems, water heaters, electric vehicles (EVs), and industrial processes, can be managed to balance electricity supply and demand. Therefore, this study addresses the escalating energy demand in residential buildings including the integration of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy technologies. It focuses on controllable loads, which offer flexibility that can be managed to balance supply and demand through demand response programs. First, the controllable loads are categorized as HVAC (air conditioners, electric heaters, and electric heat pumps), uninterruptable (washing machines, dishwashers, and electric cookers), interruptible (water heater), and EVs. Then, this study proposes a detailed clustering approach for homes, categorizing them into six clusters to capture diverse consumption patterns, including scenarios such as work-from-home setups. The analysis includes examining the adaptability of these home clusters and controllable load groups under different EV charging levels (level 1 and level 2) and coordinating them with PV systems. The study evaluates the coordination of each controllable load group with EVs and PVs, aiming to optimize overall energy usage and enhance renewable resource integration. Parameters such as energy management, operation of controllable equipment, and indoor temperature are analyzed to provide insights for homeowners and policymakers to make informed decisions about load management and energy resource utilization in residential settings. Simulation results show that with level 1 chargers, type 2 homes achieve higher average EV avoidance (81.94 %) and lower PV consumption (31.22 %), while with level 2 chargers, all homes reach 100 % EV avoidance.