Project's key elements

The overarching objective of the project is to demonstrate that it is possible to control autonomously a set of distributed chargers in order to replicate the functionality of an aggregated set of centrally controlled chargers. This will further support the replacement of the controlling capability of conventional plants in the power system.

• Autonomous and coordinated charging control without detailed information exchange
• One way – slow speed – communication to the car (brand-agnostic)
• Development of new technologies according to the IEC standard (can be used with any EV)
• Adaptive algorithms according to grid states and EV population size
• Behind-the-meter operation in order to avoid grid reinforcement
• Possibility to provide fast grid services

Research topics and questions

The following research questions will drive the scientific investigation:

• How does the stochasticity in the usage of EVs influence the control strategy when providing services to the power systems?
• How to cluster heterogeneous sets of small domestic controllable units so that their controlling capability resemble the one of a large power plant?
• Will the autonomous control of EVs initiate large-scale instabilities into the grid?

The research content of the project is streamlined in the following three areas.

1. Architecture for autonomous chargers. The current centralized approach for controlling EVs may well serve the purpose of providing grid services, but it adds complexity and costs, making the whole solution potentially not feasible (from an economic perspective). On the other hand, it is necessary to specify the way we are delegating to the charger the decision on how much and how quickly to react. It is therefore necessary to specify the necessary information flow to make sure that the requested controlling actions are realized.

2. Large-scale management of clusters of electric vehicles. There has been extensive work in modelling EVs; nonetheless, gaps remain in accurate models especially when it comes to understanding the aggregated response of heterogeneous clustering of such units over different areas. The main challenge arises by the fact that their main function is not to serve the power system, but instead the private owner.

3. Power smoothing applications. This area would include set-up involving consumers as well as coupling with wind power plants (as hybrid-power plants). Compared to the previous investigation area that has a system-angle, the focus here lies on the local application. The scientific value resides in defining proper control strategies for providing short term balancing of the local consumption (or production) and ensure a controllable power output.