Sustaining power distribution network submerged in plug-in hybrid CNG-electric vehicles for future green transportation: A risk-constrained analysis

Abstract

The urgent need to address environmental issues, particularly the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, has become a global priority. In this pursuit, various technologies are being explored to facilitate the promotion of sustainability. This study focuses on a virtual energy hub (VEH) integrated with Plug-in hybrid gas-electric vehicles (PHGEVs), various energy sources, and storage devices. However, the presence of fossil-based energy sources like combined heat and power (CHP), diesel generation (DG), boilers, and gas-based operation modes of PHGEVs, resulted in the release of carbon emissions. In this concern, the power-to-gas (P2G) technology, with its immense potential, is being considered to absorb and recycle captured CO2 emissions into methane gas, thereby enhancing economic and sustainability perspectives. Furthermore, uncertain parameters including the charge and discharge of PHGEVs, the price of the day-ahead market for heat and power, energy demands, and wind speed are considered in the VEH, the management of which is achieved through the downside risk constraint (DRC) method. The proposed model is implemented and tested on an IEEE 33-bus test system. Results show that P2G reduces the CO2 level by a mean of 3.7%. Also, for the minimum of 3.2% profit reduction, the risk level has fallen by nearly 100%.