Modelling the Impact of Uncontrolled Electric Vehicles Charging Demand on the Optimal Operation of Residential Energy Hubs

Abstract

Development and implementation of energy hubs present a viable means of transitioning towards distributed and renewable energy generation and conversion technologies. Particularly in the residential sector, implementation of an energy hub infrastructure increases the resiliency of the local system against grid failures and provides economic and environment benefits with respect to system operation. However, recent transition towards electric mobility in the transportation sector introduces new challenges to the optimization of dispatch of energy vectors within residential energy hubs. This is partly due to the uncontrolled charging behavior exhibited by large plug-in electric vehicle (EV) fleets. Under uncontrolled charging conditions, residential energy hubs are impacted by significant additional energy consumption loads and must adapt appropriately to ensure optimal operation of the overall system. In this chapter, the impact of two levels of uncontrolled EV fleet charging rates are projected onto a residential energy hub under different distributed energy technology configurations. The effects of these various conditions on the optimal operation of the residential energy hub are evaluated using a mixed-integer linear programming approach. Economic and emission analysis of the results of this study indicate the operating cost-cutting potential of lower EV charging rates and co-generation technologies, as well as the corresponding tradeoff in emission generation. Furthermore, the operating cost and emission impacts of cogeneration of heat and power (CHP) implementation under an Ontario context were examined, indicating up to 34% operating cost reduction and a 49% emission increase resulting from CHP adoption. Finally, the limitations in solar photovoltaic adoption in the residential energy hub were discussed.