Tomás Gómez San Román

Assessment of the Impact of Plug-in Electric Vehicles on Distribution Networks

Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) present environmental and energy security advantages versus conventional gasoline vehicles. In the near future, the number of plug-in electric vehicles will likely grow significantly in the world. Despite the aforementioned advantages, the connection of PEV to the power grid poses a series of new challenges for electric utilities. This paper proposes a comprehensive approach for evaluating the impact of different levels of PEV penetration on distribution network investment and incremental energy losses. The proposed approach is based on the use of a large-scale distribution planning model which is used to analyze two real distribution areas. Obtained results show that depending on the charging strategies, investment costs can increase up to 15% of total actual distribution network investment costs, and energy losses can increase up to 40% in off-peak hours for a scenario with 60% of total vehicles being PEV.

A Reference Network Model for Large-Scale Distribution Planning With Automatic Street Map Generation

A Reference Network Model (RNM) is a large-scale distribution planning tool that can help regulators to estimate efficient costs in the context of incentive regulation applied to distribution companies. This paper presents the main features of an RNM developed for planning distribution networks from scratch, greenfield planning, or incrementally from an existing grid. Two properties of the model are highlighted: the simultaneous planning of high-, medium-, and low-voltage networks by using simultaneity factors; and the layout of cables in urban areas, taking into consideration the street map, which is automatically generated by the model. A case study evaluates the impact of these features on the results.