Combined PV–EV hosting capacity assessment for a residential LV distribution grid with smart EV charging and PV curtailment

TLDR

PV systems and electric vehicles are key to sustainable built environments, yet large‑scale integration in local distribution grids faces technical challenges and each grid has a specific hosting capacity limiting PV and EV penetration. This study evaluates the combined PV–EV hosting capacity of a residential low‑voltage grid under four EMS scenarios: no EMS, EV smart charging only, PV curtailment only, and both. The authors use a novel graphical method to assess combined PV–EV hosting capacity within a single framework. Results show that EV smart charging markedly increases EV hosting capacity and modestly improves PV capacity, whereas PV curtailment significantly boosts PV capacity but has no effect on EV capacity, with a slight positive correlation between the two.

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) systems and electric vehicles (EVs) integrated in local distribution systems are considered to be two of the keys to a sustainable future built environment. However, large-scale integration of PV generation and EV charging loads poses technical challenges for the distribution grid. Each grid has a specific hosting capacity limiting the allowable PV and EV share. This paper presents a combined PV–EV grid integration and hosting capacity assessment for a residential LV distribution grid with four different energy management system (EMS) scenarios: (1) without EMS, (2) with EV smart charging only, (3) with PV curtailment only, and (4) with both EV smart charging and PV curtailment. The combined PV–EV hosting capacity is presented using a novel graphical approach so that both PV and EV hosting capacity can be analyzed within the same framework. Results show that the EV smart charging can improve the hosting capacity for EVs significantly and for PV slightly. While the PV curtailment can improve the hosting capacity for PV significantly, it cannot improve the hosting capacity for EVs at all. From the graphical analysis, it can be concluded that there is a slight positive correlation between PV and EV hosting capacity in the case of residential areas.