Reliability based strategic integration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in power systems

Energy security, greenhouse gas emissions, and debate on climate change caused increased interest of penetrating of renewable power generation into power systems. Among the renewable power generation technologies, wind power generation takes a key share of load supply. However, the wind is intermittent and its output needs to rely on auxiliary supports to uniformly serve the energy customers. The emerging plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are a potential solution to mitigate intermittent effects of wind power outputs. PHEVs can provide a battery based energy storage solution to smooth intermittent outputs of wind power and they have the mobility advantage. This paper investigates the ability of PHEVs to enhance the reliability of an unbalanced power system that is integrated with wind farms. Operational characteristics of PHEVs are modelled by incorporating charging and discharging rates, depth of discharge, and their state of charge at times of use. Case studies suggest that strategic integration of PHEVs provides a considerable opportunity for wind power generation to be present in a power system in addition to the enhancement of reliability of power supply. Results argue that the level of PHEV supports does not necessarily correlate with the integration capacity of wind.