Coordination of electric vehicle battery charging with photovoltaic generation

Increased penetration of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems over the past decade has led to an abundance of power being exported back to the grid during times of high irradiance. Electric vehicle (EV) ownership has also increased recently, with predictions of further rises in the short to medium term resulting in increased network loading. Both EVs and PVs present significant environmental and economic advantages however they also pose challenges for network operators. This paper describes the development of a tool for coordinating PV generation and EV battery charging such that each technology is exploited, while negative impacts are mitigated. The results obtained from testing the developed strategy reveal that under Tasmanian summer conditions an EV battery could gain significant increased charge through only charging during periods of the day where PV generation was greater than local loading. Winter conditions are also tested with positive, although less significant results achieved.