Assessment of the technical impacts of electric vehicle penetration in distribution networks: A focus on system management strategies integrating sustainable local energy communities

@ARTICLE{Borroy_Vicente2024-ss,
  title     = "Assessment of the technical impacts of electric vehicle
               penetration in distribution networks: A focus on system
               management strategies integrating sustainable local energy
               communities",
  author    = "Borroy Vicente, Samuel and Fern{\'a}ndez, Gregorio and Galan,
               Noemi and Llombart Estopi{\~n}{\'a}n, Andr{\'e}s and Salani,
               Matteo and Derboni, Marco and Giuffrida, Vincenzo and
               Hern{\'a}ndez-Callejo, Luis",
  abstract  = "Aligned with the objectives of the energy transition, the
               increased penetration levels of electric vehicles as part of the
               electrification of economy, especially within the framework of
               local energy communities and distributed energy resources, are
               crucial in shaping sustainable and decentralized energy systems.
               This work aims to assess the impact of escalating electric
               vehicles' deployment on sustainable local energy community-based
               low-voltage distribution networks. Through comparative analyses
               across various levels of electric vehicle integration, employing
               different charging strategies and system management approaches,
               the research highlights the critical role of active system
               management instruments such as smart grid monitoring and active
               network management tools, which significantly enhance the
               proactive management capabilities of distribution system
               operators. The findings demonstrate that increased electric
               vehicle penetration rates intensify load violations, which
               strategic electric vehicle charging management can significantly
               mitigate, underscoring the necessity of load management
               strategies in alleviating grid stress in the context assessed.
               This study highlights the enhanced outcomes derived from active
               system management strategies which foster collaboration among
               distribution system operators, demand aggregators, and local
               energy communities' managers within a local flexibility market
               framework. The results of the analysis illustrate that this
               proactive and cooperative approach boosts system flexibility and
               effectively averts severe grid events, which otherwise would
               likely occur. The findings reveal the need for an evolution
               towards more predictive and proactive system management in
               electricity distribution, emphasizing the significant benefits
               of fostering robust partnerships among actors to ensure grid
               stability amid rising electric vehicle integration.",
  journal   = "Sustainability",
  publisher = "MDPI AG",
  volume    =  16,
  number    =  15,
  pages     = "6464",
  month     =  jul,
  year      =  2024,
  copyright = "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  language  = "en"
}