Optimal power factor for optimally located and sized solar parking lots applying quantum annealing

Abstract

Investigating optimal value of the power factor for the optimally allocated and sized solar parking lots of the plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) based on minimum total cost of the problem over the given planning period is the aim of this study. Covering a parking lot with photovoltaic (PV) panels can keep the PEVs cool, charge their batteries for free, and generate extra energy and deliver it to the grid. Moreover, the inverter installed in the charging station of a parking lot is capable of generating or absorbing reactive power by changing the operating mode of the inverter without any degradation of the PEV’s battery. Therefore, the PEVs and the solar parking lots can be applied as the auxiliary sources of active and reactive powers by the local distribution company (DISCO). In this study, in order to achieve realistic results, the economic aspects and technical factors of the system, and also the behavioural model of the PEVs fleet are taken into consideration in the planning problem. Moreover, the stochastic nature of the PEVs behaviour and power of the installed PV panels are modelled in the problem. Herein, the planning problem is solved applying quantum annealing (QA).