This study proposes an electric vehicle (EV) charge-discharge management framework for the effective utilization of photovoltaic (PV) output through coordination based on information exchange between home energy management system (HEMS) and grid energy management system (GEMS). In our proposed framework, the HEMS determines an EV charge-discharge plan for reducing the residential operation cost and PV curtailment without disturbing EV usage for driving, on the basis of voltage constraint information in the grid provided by the GEMS and forecasted power profiles. Then, the HEMS controls the EV charge-discharge according to the determined plan and real-time monitored data, which is utilized for mitigating the negative effect caused by forecast errors of power profiles. The proposed framework was evaluated on the basis of the Japanese distribution system (DS) simulation model. The simulation results show the effectiveness of our proposed framework from the viewpoint of reduction of the residential operation cost and PV curtailment.

This paper proposes an electric vehicle (EV) charging management scheme for effective utilization of photovoltaic (PV) power based on an auction mechanism. The proposed scheme coordinates an amount of self-consumption of PV output by shifting the charging period of customers' EVs, and it reduces PV curtailment caused by voltage rise in low-voltage distribution systems (LVDSs). The auction mechanism is introduced in order to assure both the equity of benefit in each customer and the autonomy that enables customers to voluntarily participate in the EV charging management scheme. The authors perform numerical simulations based on a Japanese distribution system model and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. The results show that our proposed scheme reduces the residential operation cost and the PV curtailment in LVDSs without an enhanced communication network even taking into consideration the effects of forecasting errors of electricity demand and PV output, and unexpected disconnection condition of several EVs.

The integration of smart grid technologies in interconnected power system networks presents multiple challenges for the power industry and the scientific community. To address these challenges, researchers are creating new methods for the validation of: control, interoperability, reliability of Internet of Things systems, distributed energy resources, modern power equipment for applications covering power system stability, operation, control, and cybersecurity. Novel methods for laboratory testing of electrical power systems incorporate novel simulation techniques spanning real-time simulation, Power Hardware-in-the-Loop, Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop, Power System-in-the-Loop, and co-simulation technologies. These methods directly support the acceleration of electrical systems and power electronics component research by validating technological solutions in high-fidelity environments. In this paper, members of the Survey of Smart Grid International Research Facility Network task on Advanced Laboratory Testing Methods present a review of methods, test procedures, studies, and experiences employing advanced laboratory techniques for validation of range of research and development prototypes and novel power system solutions.

With growing attention to sustainability and recognition of the impact of global warming problems, energy supply and consumption have become critically important. This paper presents the construction of a modeling platform accommodating cooperative energy management systems (EMSs), which virtually produces the model of a smart city with a distribution network (DN) by using a wide range of data obtained from the real world. The platform involves models of various EMSs, governing the operation of a power system or controlling consumer-installed devices, and simulating the power flow, electrical losses, and voltage in the DN. In addition, indices measuring the sustainability of the model city, such as CO ₂ emission, are estimated from scenarios, for example, photovoltaic system installation, electric vehicle penetration, etc. The results can be visually displayed and the platform is highly versatile and applicable to various types of issues associated with smart cities. Two case studies are presented in detail.

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are the most common distributed energy resource utilized at household level, owing to the subsidies and payback schemes. Proliferation of residential PV reduces the bills for its owner and supports the grid by local generation when needed. However, since they are located at distribution networks, too much local generation causes over-voltage issues. The traditional solution is to curtail the PV generation when the voltage limit is reached. This limits the benefits of the residential PV systems, makes expected payback period longer, and reduces the amount of captured renewable energy. Alternative approaches that make use of the available storage, such as electric vehicles (EVs), to avoid over-voltage issues in the network and maximize the PV generation, are required. In this paper, a charge–discharge management scheme is shown, where the estimated PV generation as well as the EV location and its state of charge are utilized to calculate the expected PV curtailment due to the over-voltage issues. Based on this information, EV battery is utilized to capture the energy that would, otherwise, be curtailed. This scheme requires the exchange of data and information between different entities, such as irradiation sensors, households, and grid energy management system. Considering the variety of devices included in this communication network, a standardized approach is vital for its successful implementation. Therefore, IEC61850-based communication models are developed for the house energy management system, PV, EV, and grid energy management system. Furthermore, communication message flows have been developed, and their performances have been investigated using different communication technologies.

The introduction of photovoltaic power systems is being significantly promoted. This paper proposes the implementation of a distributed energy management framework linking demand-side management systems and supply-side management system under the given time-of-use pricing program for efficient utilization of photovoltaic power outputs; each system implements a consistent management flow composed of forecasting, operation planning, and control steps. In our framework, demand-side systems distributed in the electric distribution network manage individual energy consumption to reduce the residential operating cost by utilizing the residential photovoltaic power system and controllable energy appliances so as not to inconvenience residents. On the other hand, the supply-side system utilizes photovoltaic power maximally while maintaining the quality of electric power. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is evaluated on the basis of an actual Japanese distribution network simulation model from both the supply-side and demand-side viewpoints.