Generation Dispatch and Power Grid Emission Impacts of Transportation Electrification

Generators in the bulk power grid are having to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles (EV) charging. This can affect emissions arising from these generators, which should be accounted for in analyzing the benefits of EVs over internal combustion engine vehicles. This paper describes the impacts of EVs on generator emissions, considering different scenarios of EV penetration, charging strategies, and wind curtailment. It discusses the sensitivity of generation dispatch and emissions to the system generation mix, and the EV charging strategy. Using a synthetic grid model based on the footprint of the state of Texas shows that even a 5% EV penetration in one part of the system can change the dispatch far across the network, highlighting the importance of using large, regional models in EV grid integration assessments. The paper also shows how different methods of modeling wind generation such as wind curtailment affect the emissions, especially in the presence of EVs.