An IoT-based Smart Charging Algorithm Considering Local Distributed Energy Resources and V2G Technology

Abstract

The integration of distributed energy resources (DERs), such as electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs), photovoltaic units (PVs), and battery energy storage systems (BESSs) is a key component towards decarbonization. In this context, the development of smart charging control strategies to encourage the usage of renewable energy sources (RESs) for EV charging has became a topical research subject. This paper proposes a smart charging algorithm executed through an internet of things (IoT) platform to control DERs, locally integrated through an aggregated system. The objective is to diversify the source of energy for EV charging in which BESSs and PVs are used to complement the energy from the main grid. The proposed algorithm is capable of controlling the BESS dispatch, and it establishes the charging/discharging limits of EVCSs, every 5 minutes. It also guarantees that the EV users will reach an adequate level of energy before departure. Moreover, the algorithm can integrate EVCSs with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. Preliminary results show that the proposed smart charging algorithm incentives the use of RESs for EV charging without the need of forecasts. Moreover, it is shown that V2G is a suitable technology to complement the flexibility of the aggregated systems.