Integrating Vehicle-to-Home Unit with Smart Home Energy Management Systems: A Unified Energy Management Framework

Abstract

The increasing acceptance of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy sources (RES) has led to the need for a unified energy management framework that can integrate multiple energy systems, including Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) units, Smart Home Energy Management Systems (SHEMS), Solar PV systems, and the grid. The framework uses a centralized control strategy that makes decisions based on real-time integration of a Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) unit with a Smart Home Energy Management System (SHEMS), which can provide a solution to these challenges by enabling bidirectional power flow between the EV battery and the home. We proposed a unified energy management framework that integrates a Ve- hicle-to-Home (V2H) unit with a SHEMS using a Perturb and Observe (P-&-O) algorithm. The proposed framework allows for the optimization of energy usage in the home by utilizing the battery of an EV, which can be charged during off-peak hours and discharged during peak hours. The P&O algorithm is a well-known algorithm used in photovoltaic systems to track the Maximum Power Point (MPP) of a solar panel. The algorithm is also applicable to EV charging and discharging systems. The algorithm uses a per- turbation signal to change the charging rate of the EV battery and observes the resulting change in the bat- tery voltage. The simulation results can also provide benefits to EV owners, such as reduced electricity costs and increased flexibility in managing their EV charging, helping to achieve efficient and sustainable energy management in residential areas. Keywords: Solar panel, Electric Vehicle Battery, Vehicle-to-Home (V2H), Smart Home Energy Manage- ment Systems (SHEMS), Demand side management.