Optimal energy management and smart charging of PEVs in isolated microgrids

Plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) present a promising solution to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions but on the other hand, their increased penetration can impact power system operation, particularly so in an isolated microgrid. Similarly, demand response (DR) has the potential to provide significant flexibility in the operation of an isolated microgrid, with limited generation capacity, by altering the demand and introducing an elasticity effect. This paper examines uncontrolled and controlled PEV charging strategies, in the presence of DR and battery energy storage systems (BESS), using an optimal energy management model for isolated microgrids. The model develops energy management strategies considering power flow constraints and different objective functions from the perspective of the microgrid operator and the owners of PEVs.