Assessing the energy equity benefits of mobile energy storage solutions

Rapid market growth and ambitious climate goals to increase adoption of all types of electric vehicles necessitates that decarbonization, resilience, and energy equity and justice strategies are simultaneously employed to keep pace with the evolving social and policy climate. This is even more imperative now that electric vehicles can be considered a grid storage asset with the implementation of vehicle-to-grid bidirectional charging strategies. This study aims to characterize the energy equity and community benefits of mobile energy storage solutions (MESS) via a storage adequacy analysis of energy access for the following three use-cases–utility-scale networks of MESS assets that are operated within the distribution system; community public transit MESS assets; and behind-the-meter personal vehicle MESS assets. These different use-cases correspond to different battery capacities, charging schedules, and distribution within the grid for which the relevant equity co-benefits must be understood. The results of the resource adequacy analysis will inform a discussion of additional energy equity metrics to establish a prioritization framework matching community and system needs to better inform the distribution of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, utility planning processes, and the wider network of transportation and energy system stakeholders.