Empowering renewables-based microgrids through vehicle-to-building service: A real case study

This study analyses the application of vehicle-to-building (V2B) technology to the headquarters of ASM Terni S.p. A., the distribution system operator in the Terni municipality area. The ASM Terni S.p.A. micro-grid (MG) includes a 245 kWp photovoltaic plant and 95 kWh Li-ion stationary battery. A Simulink model, based on real annual data of electricity consumption and photovoltaic generation profiles, aims to assess the benefits of integrating Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) into the building. A sensitivity analysis, at varying the EV fleet (from 2 to 8 BEVs), is performed assessing energetic and economic savings, as well as the avoided CO2 emissions. Economic evaluation on V2B integration, performed for three different scenarios, also includes a sensitivity analysis to the variation of incentives' intensity and electricity prices. With respect to the case of storage absence, 2 BEVs performing V2B and the stationary battery allow an annual reduction of -8% in grid withdrawal and -27% in surplus PV energy delivered to the grid, with avoided CO2 ranging from 194 kgC02 (2 EVs) to 255 kgC02 (8 EVs), while average savings of 10,537-9,097 & euro; (for 8 and 2 EVs). Another innovative aspect lies in the implementation of a multi-objective MG power management strategy based on simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation algorithm, optimizing the interaction between BEVs and the corporate grid, at varying the number of interconnected BEVs. The obtained outcomes can pave the way towards the V2B application, making BEV users aware on the opportunity in promoting V2X deployment through pilot projects, incentives and financial benefits.