Impact of controlled plug-in EVs on microgrids: A military microgrid example

Increasing concerns about energy security and reliability are intensifying the interest in microgrid and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies. Although the role of V2G technology within the context of optimal scheduling for larger grids has received much attention in the literature, its role within the regulation of microgrids has not yet been studied extensively. In this paper, we focus on the voltage and frequency regulation problem. We develop a microgrid model that is representative of the microgrid architecture considered in the SPIDERS (Smart Power Infrastructure Demonstration for Energy Reliability and Security) project of the Department of Defense. The model is parameterized to reflect the characteristics of Camp Smith, HI, the targeted installation of the SPIDERS project, and the long term Army goals regarding renewable energy penetration and reduction in fuel consumption. The model is augmented by power, frequency, and voltage control algorithms for the inverters that connect microsources to the microgrid. It also incorporates charging/discharging control algorithms for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) to take advantage of their capacity as both controllable loads and sources. Using this model, we study the impact of PEVs on the microgrid at different penetration levels and for different control parameters, with the aim of identifying the conditions needed for the vehicle-to-grid technology to have a positive impact on microgrid performance.