IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i2p289-d1314255.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impacts of Electric Vehicles Charging in Low-Voltage Distribution Networks: A Case Study in Malta

Author

Listed:
  • Brian Azzopardi

    (MCAST Energy Research Group, Institute for Engineering and Transport, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), PLA 9032 Paola, Malta
    The Foundation for Innovation and Research—Malta (FiR.mt), BKR 4011 Birkirkara, Malta)

  • Yesbol Gabdullin

    (MCAST Energy Research Group, Institute for Engineering and Transport, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), PLA 9032 Paola, Malta)

Abstract

A high penetration of electric vehicle (EV) charging in low voltage (LV) networks can challenge grid stability due to voltage variations and limited feeder capacity. This research paper examines the integration of electric vehicle (EV) charging in real-life residential low voltage (LV) networks in Malta. The study utilizes smart metering data and presents a methodology framework and tools to analyze the impacts of EV charging on grid stability. The likelihood of challenges in the LV network is assessed by conducting simulations and deriving cumulative distribution functions (CDFs). The study also evaluates the impact of EV charging on the occurrence of network challenges and identifies predominant issues through multi-feeder analyses. Additionally, a regression analysis tool is developed to predict the impacts based on feeder characteristics. The results show strong relationships between feeder characteristics and EV charging processes, offering valuable insights for network planning and operations. However, it should be noted that the current EV charging penetration in the Maltese grid is below 1% in any LV feeder, suggesting the absence of significant technological hurdles at present.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian Azzopardi & Yesbol Gabdullin, 2024. "Impacts of Electric Vehicles Charging in Low-Voltage Distribution Networks: A Case Study in Malta," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:2:p:289-:d:1314255
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/2/289/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/2/289/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Crozier, Constance & Morstyn, Thomas & McCulloch, Malcolm, 2020. "The opportunity for smart charging to mitigate the impact of electric vehicles on transmission and distribution systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    2. Rahman, Syed & Khan, Irfan Ahmed & Khan, Ashraf Ali & Mallik, Ayan & Nadeem, Muhammad Faisal, 2022. "Comprehensive review & impact analysis of integrating projected electric vehicle charging load to the existing low voltage distribution system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    3. Crozier, Constance & Morstyn, Thomas & Deakin, Matthew & McCulloch, Malcolm, 2020. "The case for Bi-directional charging of electric vehicles in low voltage distribution networks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Youssef Amry & Elhoussin Elbouchikhi & Franck Le Gall & Mounir Ghogho & Soumia El Hani, 2022. "Electric Vehicle Traction Drives and Charging Station Power Electronics: Current Status and Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-30, August.
    2. McGarry, Connor & Dixon, James & Flower, Jack & Bukhsh, Waqquas & Brand, Christian & Bell, Keith & Galloway, Stuart, 2024. "Electrified heat and transport: Energy demand futures, their impacts on power networks and what it means for system flexibility," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 360(C).
    3. Nico Brinkel & Thijs Wijk & Anoeska Buijze & Nanda Kishor Panda & Jelle Meersmans & Peter Markotić & Bart Ree & Henk Fidder & Baerte Brey & Simon Tindemans & Tarek AlSkaif & Wilfried Sark, 2024. "Enhancing smart charging in electric vehicles by addressing paused and delayed charging problems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Francesco Lo Franco & Mattia Ricco & Riccardo Mandrioli & Gabriele Grandi, 2020. "Electric Vehicle Aggregate Power Flow Prediction and Smart Charging System for Distributed Renewable Energy Self-Consumption Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-25, September.
    5. Jiaan Zhang & Chenyu Liu & Leijiao Ge, 2022. "Short-Term Load Forecasting Model of Electric Vehicle Charging Load Based on MCCNN-TCN," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-25, April.
    6. Verónica Anadón Martínez & Andreas Sumper, 2023. "Planning and Operation Objectives of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructures: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-41, July.
    7. Viktor Slednev & Patrick Jochem & Wolf Fichtner, 2022. "Impacts of electric vehicles on the European high and extra high voltage power grid," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(3), pages 824-837, June.
    8. Buzna, Luboš & De Falco, Pasquale & Ferruzzi, Gabriella & Khormali, Shahab & Proto, Daniela & Refa, Nazir & Straka, Milan & van der Poel, Gijs, 2021. "An ensemble methodology for hierarchical probabilistic electric vehicle load forecasting at regular charging stations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    9. Niu, Jide & Li, Xiaoyuan & Tian, Zhe & Yang, Hongxing, 2024. "Uncertainty analysis of the electric vehicle potential for a household to enhance robustness in decision on the EV/V2H technologies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    10. Zou, Wenke & Sun, Yongjun & Gao, Dian-ce & Zhang, Xu & Liu, Junyao, 2023. "A review on integration of surging plug-in electric vehicles charging in energy-flexible buildings: Impacts analysis, collaborative management technologies, and future perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    11. Li, Xue & Li, Minghai & Habibi, Mostafa & Najaafi, Neda & Safarpour, Hamed, 2023. "Optimization of hybrid energy management system based on high-energy solid-state lithium batteries and reversible fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    12. Xie, Xiangmin & Peng, Fei & Zhang, Yan, 2022. "A data-driven probabilistic harmonic power flow approach in power distribution systems with PV generations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    13. Sagar Hossain & Md. Rokonuzzaman & Kazi Sajedur Rahman & A. K. M. Ahasan Habib & Wen-Shan Tan & Md Mahmud & Shahariar Chowdhury & Sittiporn Channumsin, 2023. "Grid-Vehicle-Grid (G2V2G) Efficient Power Transmission: An Overview of Concept, Operations, Benefits, Concerns, and Future Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-24, March.
    14. Gonzalez Venegas, Felipe & Petit, Marc & Perez, Yannick, 2021. "Active integration of electric vehicles into distribution grids: Barriers and frameworks for flexibility services," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    15. Pampa Sinha & Kaushik Paul & Sanchari Deb & Sulabh Sachan, 2023. "Comprehensive Review Based on the Impact of Integrating Electric Vehicle and Renewable Energy Sources to the Grid," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-39, March.
    16. Ali M. Eltamaly, 2023. "Smart Decentralized Electric Vehicle Aggregators for Optimal Dispatch Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-27, December.
    17. Afaq Ahmad & Muhammad Khalid & Zahid Ullah & Naveed Ahmad & Mohammad Aljaidi & Faheem Ahmed Malik & Umar Manzoor, 2022. "Electric Vehicle Charging Modes, Technologies and Applications of Smart Charging," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-32, December.
    18. Jong Hui Moon & Han Na Gwon & Gi Ryong Jo & Woo Yeong Choi & Kyung Soo Kook, 2020. "Stochastic Modeling Method of Plug-in Electric Vehicle Charging Demand for Korean Transmission System Planning," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-14, August.
    19. Konstantina Dimitriadou & Nick Rigogiannis & Symeon Fountoukidis & Faidra Kotarela & Anastasios Kyritsis & Nick Papanikolaou, 2023. "Current Trends in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure; Opportunities and Challenges in Wireless Charging Integration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-28, February.
    20. Hu, Wenxuan & Scholz, Yvonne & Yeligeti, Madhura & Deng, Ying & Jochem, Patrick, 2024. "Future electricity demand for Europe: Unraveling the dynamics of the Temperature Response Function," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 368(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:2:p:289-:d:1314255. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.