Open-Source Computational Tool for Scheduling Off-Grid Home Loads, Batteries, and Backup Generators

Plug-in electric vehicles have large batteries and/or on-board power generators that can provide backup capabilities when the grid fails if they are configured to support vehicle-to-load (V2L) or bidirectional charging in a vehicle-to-home (V2H) configuration. This capability is becoming increasingly valuable as the electric grid is experiencing an increasing number of failures. These electric vehicles are compelling options for backup power with lower emissions, noise, fuel consumption, and lower operating costs compared to a traditional internal combustion engine driven generator or a system using rooftop PV combined with behind-the-meter (BTM) home battery systems. The authors created a flexible tool that enables a user to configure different home loads combined with various generator and storage types and sizes to estimate the home loads that a configuration can support or how long a V2H system can provide backup power to a given set of loads and under various weather and home conditions.