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The importance of spatial distribution when analysing the impact of electric vehicles on voltage stability in distribution networks

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Abstract

The recent emergence of distributed generation, smart meters, and electric vehicles means that much attention is now being given to network modelling and analysis at the distribution, rather than transmission, level. Many optimisation studies, both regarding technical and economic questions, aim to satisfy the constraints posed by grid infrastructure. We explore in detail one of these network constraints, minimum required voltage, at the distribution level and demonstrate that the physical locations of individual loads in the network play a significant role in determining whether voltages throughout the network remain within required limits or not. Our simulations use real distribution network data and are run on models of two real neighbourhoods. We show that the addition of a single load at a weak point of the network can have the same impact as considerably greater numbers of loads at stronger locations of the network. This has important implications for applications such as electric vehicle charging, and suggests that spatial distribution of loads should be taken into account when analysing network stability.

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Notes

  1. Australian standard 60038 sets voltage limits at customers’ point of connection to be 230 V +10 % /\(-\)6 %, in other words within (216 V, 253 V) [12].

  2. http://www.possim.org.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been funded by a Linkage Grant supported by the Australian Research Council, Better Place Australia, and Senergy Australia. We are grateful to United Energy and Ergon Energy for providing data and assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Julian de Hoog & Doreen Anne Thomas

  2. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Valentin Muenzel, Derek Chanaka Jayasuriya, Tansu Alpcan, Marcus Brazil & Iven Mareels

  3. Ergon Energy, Townsville, QLD, Australia

    Glenn Dahlenburg

  4. United Energy, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Raman Jegatheesan

Authors
  1. Julian de Hoog
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  2. Valentin Muenzel
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  3. Derek Chanaka Jayasuriya
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  4. Tansu Alpcan
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  5. Marcus Brazil
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  6. Doreen Anne Thomas
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  8. Glenn Dahlenburg
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  9. Raman Jegatheesan
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Correspondence to Julian de Hoog.

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de Hoog, J., Muenzel, V., Jayasuriya, D.C. et al. The importance of spatial distribution when analysing the impact of electric vehicles on voltage stability in distribution networks. Energy Syst 6, 63–84 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12667-014-0122-8

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