A Multi-Objective Planning Strategy for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations towards Low Carbon-Oriented Modern Power Systems

Abstract

This paper proposes a multi-objective planning framework for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in emerging power networks that move towards green transportation electrification. Four cases are investigated to study the impacts of EV integration on environmental and economic requirements. In order to facilitate the installation of EV charging stations, the proposed model is formulated to combine the planning models of renewable energy systems, energy storage systems (ESSs), thyristor-controlled series compensators, and transmission lines into the EV-based planning problem. The first objective function aims to maximize EVs’ penetration by increasing the networks’ capacity to supply charging stations throughout the day, whereas the second objective, on the other hand, emphasizes lowering the carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-based generation units in order to benefit the environment. The third objective is to meet the financial requirements by lowering the initial investment and operating costs of the installed devices. The proposed model is written as a multi-objective optimization problem that is solved using the multi-objective version of the Gazelle optimization algorithm (MGOA). The efficiency of the MGOA was tested by solving a set of four benchmark test functions and the proposed problem. The obtained results demonstrated the MGOA’s superiority in solving multi-objective optimization problems when compared to some well-known optimization algorithms in terms of robustness and solution quality. The MGOA’s robustness was between 20% and 30% and outperformed other algorithms by 5%. The MGO was successful in outperforming the other algorithms in providing a better solution. The Egyptian West Delta Network simulations revealed a 250 MWh increase in the energy supplied to EVs when energy storage was not used. However, storage systems were necessary for shifting EV charging periods away from high solar radiation scenarios. The use of ESS increased greenhouse gas emissions. When ESS was installed with a capacity of 1116.4 MWh, the carbon emissions increased by approximately 208.29 million metric tons. ESS’s role in improving the EV’s hosting capacity grows as more renewables are added to the network. ESS’s role in improving the EV’s hosting capacity rises as more renewables are added to the network.