Techno-Economic Analysis of Electric Vehicle Parking Lots in Microgrids

This study aims to analyze the techno-economic utilization of electric vehicle parking lots in microgrids under a considerable penetration of renewable energy resources. For this purpose, an optimization model is proposed considering the investment and maintenance costs of the parking lots as well as the operation and emission costs of microgrids. In the model, natural gas and electricity distribution systems are simulated in a grid-connected microgrid with a considerable share of wind turbines. A scenario generation technique is also utilized to determine the number and arrival state of charge of electric vehicles in parking lots. A microgrid, which consists of a 33-bus electricity system and an II-node gas system, is studied to investigate the charging and discharging of electric vehicles in parking lots. It concludes that electric vehicles in parking lots offer flexibility that offsets investment costs and reduces the amount of emission. Owing to the flexibility, the natural gas system can also respond the changes in natural gas demand more efficiently due to more natural gas within pipelines.