Desires to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well a
period of technological development and falling technology prices, has led to increased
interest in the use of new technologies in the energy sector. This paper, resulting from the
GREEN Grid research program, presents initial analysis on the effects of three emerging
technologies on the load profiles experienced by electricity distribution businesses. These
three technologies are distributed photovoltaic generation, electric vehicles, and home energy
storage systems.
Widespread adoption of these technologies has the potential to cause a number of effects in
the power system due to changing load profiles and the subsequently changing power flows.
This paper presents modelling work firstly of the impacts of photovoltaic generation on load
profiles. Regional variations in solar insolation and population density are taken into account.
Secondly, the load of electric vehicle charging is modelled under different electric vehicle
uptake and charging methodology scenarios. Thirdly the ability of EDB controlled energy
storage systems to reduce peak load both with, and without, PV generation is modelled.
The conventional notion that PV generation has no ability to reduce peak loads is tested, with
results showing that while largely true there are some scenarios which challenge that notion.
In the case of high rates of electric vehicle uptake and uncontrolled charging it is shown that
a significant increase in the evening peak is to be expected. With more considered rates of
electric vehicle uptake and charging delayed until late evening, either controlled or
incentivized with night rate tariffs, it is shown that load impacts are minimal. Initial
modelling of home battery energy storage systems show great promise in ability to reduce
daily peaks given deployment in substantial numbers
