Strategic decision-making support for distribution system planning with flexibility alternatives

The ongoing power system transformation requires rethinking the planning and operation practices of the different segments to accommodate the necessary changes and take advantage of the forthcoming opportunities. This paper concerns novel approaches for appraising initiatives involving the use of flexibility from grid-connected users. This paper proposes a Decision Theory based Multi-Criteria Cost-Benefit Analysis (DT-MCA-CBA) methodology for smart grid initiatives that capture the complexity of the distribution system planning activities in which flexibility competes with grid expansion. Based on international guidelines, the proposed DT-MCA-CBA methodology systematically assesses tangible and intangible impacts, considering multiple conflicting criteria. The DT-MCA-CBA methodology relies on a novel approach that combines MCA and Decision Theory to identify the most valuable option in a complex decision-making problem by modelling the stakeholder perspective with the MiniMax regret decision rule. The proposed DT-MCA-CBA methodology is applied to a comparative case study concerning four different approaches for distribution system planning. A web-based software which implements the proposed decision-making framework and the DT-MCA-CBA methodology is developed to provide a novel decision-making support tool for strategical smart distribution system planning

A methodology for evaluating PEVs hosting capacity margins in distribution grids

The paper describes the definition and the validation of a methodology, based on an extension of the hosting capacity concept, aimed at assessing the effects of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) charging on low voltage distribution networks. An index (called time-dependent hosting capacity) is proposed, which enables to include in its formulation the charging duration, in order to point out the grid constraints. The validation of this index was performed through simulations on the CIGRÉ low voltage European reference grid. The simulations consisted in a series of load flow calculations while varying both the load conditions and the number of charging electric vehicles, assuming a constant daily energy need for all vehicles. Moreover, for some simulations the contribution of distributed generation to improve the quality of supply according to EN 50160 was also investigated

A methodology for evaluating PEVs hosting capacity margins in distribution grids

none6F. Baccino; M. de Nigris; I. Gianinoni; S. Grillo; S. Massucco; E. TironiBaccino, Francesco; M., de Nigris; I., Gianinoni; Grillo, Samuele; Massucco, Stefano; E., Tiron

Impact Evaluation of Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEV) on Electric Distribution Networks

Evaluating the possible impact on electric distribution networks of a large number of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) is becoming of great interest. In fact, during battery charging, PEVs are a widely spread load of significant magnitude and somewhat unpredictable. On the contrary PEV batteries may constitute a significant reserve and may be used to provide storage capability for cheap energy produced by renewable sources and to supply auxiliary services to the grid. The paper presents the preliminary results of an on-going project aimed at evaluating the impact of plug-in electric vehicles on distribution networks with specific regards to low voltage systems. Hypotheses such as battery size, number of users, load profiles without and with different PEV penetration are presented for successive scenarios set-up and simulations. Results are presented and commented

Modelli di mobilità sostenibile

Il capitolo propone una rassegna sintetica delle principali tecnologie in fase di sviluppo per il miglioramento delle prestazioni energetiche e ambientali dei veicoli, l'evoluzione del contesto giuridico-regolatorio in materia di di mobilità a basso impatto ambientale, cenni alla cultura della domanda e ai principali driver evolutivi e una analisi sintetica delle determinanti dei modelli di mobilità

A Preliminary Analysis of Grid Impact of Electric Vehiclesvia Inertial Measurements

This paper proposes a method to estimate the mechanical energy at the wheel of electric vehicles through inertial measurements. Simulations based on experimental data have been carried out to analyze the grid impact of electric vehicles and the size of their battery pack according to different recharge policies and the presence of a system to accumulate energy from a regenerative brake. The experimental campaign is carried out with different classes of cars traveling on urban and extra-urban roads