Distribution network congestion management by means of electric vehicle smart charging within a multi-microgrid environment

The work presented in this paper aims to assess the impact of electric vehicle (EV) on distribution networks. An study is performed showing how the network impact can dramatically change if applying smart charging strategies opportunely integrated with other distributed energy resources (DER) with respect to a less-smart baseline operation. This paper focuses on the resolution of network constraints -voltage level violations in the short term, i.e. maintaining reliability and quality of service at transmission and distribution system operator (TSO and DSO) levels. A Spanish case study is derived in this work to obtain realistic network conditions within a 24-hour time horizon and one network reconfiguration is applied causing voltage level violations near a low voltage (LV) network including EV microgrids. The DSO then activates the available flexibility capacity of such microgrids in order to remove such violations. This case study is implemented in an experimental laboratory test and results are discussed regarding the impact of this congestion management strategy on the network and also real power flow and communication aspects.