EVSE Virtual Power Plant Control for Profitable Grid Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSEs) lack incentives to participate in grid support events, such as automatic generation control (AGC), which can negatively impact the stability and reliability of the electric grid, as they are not profitable during frequency regulation events.
Innovation Solution
A controller is used to manage a virtual power plant comprising EVSEs, enabling them to participate in the ancillary service market by generating bids and charging profiles to provide grid support, allowing EVSEs to modify their electrical power draw to support frequency regulation, thereby providing incentives for participation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If EVSEs increase their electrical load on the electric grid during charging operations, then charging revenue is improved, but grid stability during frequency regulation events deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of EVSE charging operations through automatic generation control (AGC) signals. The system dynamically adjusts the electrical load of EVSEs based on real-time grid frequency conditions, transitioning between normal charging mode and grid support mode. This dynamic operation allows EVSEs to respond to frequency regulation events by modulating their load, thereby supporting grid stability while maintaining charging operations under normal conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual power plant (VPP) as an intermediary layer between EVSEs and the electric grid. The VPP aggregates multiple EVSEs and manages their collective participation in ancillary service markets. This intermediary structure enables EVSEs to provide grid support services through the VPP coordinator, which handles market interactions and revenue distribution, thereby resolving the conflict between individual EVSE charging operations and overall grid stability
2Reliability
If EVSEs participate in grid support events requiring load reduction, then grid stability is improved, but charging revenue deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual power plant acts as a mediator that aggregates EVSEs and negotiates participation in ancillary service markets on their behalf. The VPP coordinator manages the trade-off between charging revenue and grid support compensation, ensuring that EVSEs receive compensation for load reduction during frequency regulation events. This intermediary structure transforms individual revenue losses into collective compensation opportunities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple EVSEs into a virtual power plant entity that participates in ancillary service markets collectively. By combining the load modulation capacity of multiple EVSEs, the VPP creates a larger, more valuable resource for grid support services. This merging allows EVSEs to earn compensation from ancillary service markets that would be inaccessible individually, offsetting the revenue loss from reduced charging operations
3Reliability
If EVSEs reduce their electrical load during frequency regulation events, then frequency stability is improved, but operational profitability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables EVSEs to perform multiple functions: normal charging operations and grid support services. Through the VPP structure, EVSEs can switch between these functions based on grid conditions and market opportunities. The system provides compensation mechanisms that make grid support operations profitable, transforming EVSEs from single-function charging devices into multi-functional assets that can earn revenue from both charging services and ancillary service markets
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a method of managing a participation of a virtual power plant (VPP) comprising a plurality of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) in an ancillary service market for an electric grid is provided. The method comprises generating a bid for participating in the ancillary service marked over a time period, transmitting the bid to the ancillary service market, receiving a response from the ancillary service market indicating that the bid was accepted, and identifying a request from the ancillary service market for the VPP to provide grid support to the electric grid during the time period. The method further comprises generating, based on the bid and in response to the request, at least one charging profile for one or more of the EVSEs, and providing the at least one charging profile to the one or more of the EVSEs to implement the request for grid support.