Impact of Plug-in Electric Vehicle Charging and Roof-top PVs on Distribution Transformer Health: A Case Study in Saskatoon, Canada

As the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems continues to rise, understanding their combined impact on the health of distribution transformers becomes increasingly vital to ensure grid stability and longevity. In this paper, such combined impacts are investigated through a case study in Saskatoon, Canada. Using OpenDSS and MATLAB simulation, various PEV penetration levels and PV generation capacities are explored. Transformer heating dues to ambient temperature and loading is considered. The results show that the increased PEV adoption exacerbates the transformer stress, while the PV integration mitigates these effects, especially during summer, which highlights the need to encourage the rooftop PV adoption to balance the PEV charging demand on transformers. This paper offers valuable insights for electric utilities and policymakers to manage the grid infrastructure and promote sustainable energy practices.