Optimal Operation of Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Parking Lots Considering Different Photovoltaic Technologies

Abstract

The performance of electric vehicles and their abilities to reduce fossil fuel consumption and air pollution on one hand and the use of photovoltaic (PV) panels in energy production, on the other hand, has encouraged parking lot operators (PLO) to participate in the energy market to gain more profit. However, there are several challenges such as different technologies of photovoltaic panels that make the problem complex in terms of installation cost, efficiency, available output power and dependency on environmental temperature. Therefore, the aim of this study is to maximize the PLO’s operational profit under the time of use energy pricing scheme by investigating the effects of different PV panel technologies on energy production and finding the best strategy for optimal operation of PVs and electric vehicle (EV) parking lots which is achieved by means of market and EV owners’ interaction. For the accurate investigation, four different PV panel technologies are considered in different seasons, with significant differences in daylight times, in Helsinki, Finland.

Electric Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Technologies: Impact on the Power Grid and Battery

“…The solar-powered plug-in hybrid EV has been garnering much attention recently. This is due to the high suitability of the solar-powered charging station [44], parking lots [45], and the vehicle itself [46,47]. The relative advantages and disadvantages of the commonly available EVs are summarized in Table 2 [48].…”

“…Electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) are the most crucial infrastructure part of the successful exploitation of EV technology. Countries such as the US, China, Japan, the UK, and other European nations have dispatched rules and procedures to erect smallto large-scale domestic, public, and commercial EVCSs to improve EV users and reduce carbon footprint [45,[51][52][53]. For example, in 2021, the US government prospected to operate 600,000 charger plugs to power an estimated 18 million electric vehicles by 2030.…”

Integration and Control of Distributed Renewable Energy Resources

“…The IPPF control was also applied to a utility distribution circuit, which led to reductions in system voltage unbalance and losses through balancing the active power at the feeder head. The third one [16] considered four different PV panel technologies and optimized the operation of Solar PV systems in an electric vehicle charging center. The profit of the charging facility was maximized considering solar radiation uncertainty and different behaviors of EV owners as well as several weather conditions.…”

Evaluation of solar photovoltaic carport canopy with electric vehicle charging potential

“…Reducing climate impact, enhancing the sustainability of urban ecosystems, and encouraging a low-carbon energy approach should be among the most important urban planning strategies. Solar PV carports paired with EV charging stations can therefore function as an ideal independent source of energy supply that not only helps to reduce GHG emissions, but also benefits suppliers by facilitating market interaction between supply and demand 26 .…”