Optimizing Electric Vehicle Charging Facilities for Renewable Energy Consumption

Strategic Insights -

Renewable energy sources, such as solar power, play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. However, the intermittency of renewable energy poses a significant challenge for electric vehicle (EV) charging, as charge demands often peak during periods of low renewable energy generation. Researchers at Xinyang Vocational and Technical College have proposed a novel approach to optimize EV charging facility layout, considering the enhancement of renewable energy consumption capacity and improving the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. By leveraging the optimization model, the researchers aim to guide EV users to charge during peak renewable energy generation periods, thereby improving energy consumption efficiency.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers developed a single charging station optimization configuration model to provide optimal configuration parameter references for subsequent charging facility layout optimization models.
  • The study considers charging load calculation, site selection, and capacity determination in the optimization model, adopting improved particle swarm optimization in three aspects: randomly updating inertia weights, introducing acceleration factors, and introducing fast non-dominated sorting.
  • The results showed that the designed algorithm outperformed comparison algorithms, with maximum function values of 3.56 x 10^-14, 5.32 x 10^2, and 1.08 x 10^1 for unimodal, multimodal, and composite functions, respectively.
  • The standard deviations of the algorithm were 2.01 x 10^-14, 3.557 x 10^2, and 8.56 x 10^-1, all of which were smaller than comparison algorithms.
  • The optimal configuration parameters for a single charging station were: 500 kW for photovoltaic power generation, 56.45 kW/20163 kW for energy storage system, and 680 kW for charging piles.
  • The optimized model suggested 7 charging locations and charging facilities.

Statistics:

  • 500 kW: expected value of photovoltaic power generation per single charging station.
  • 56.45 kW/20163 kW: expected value of energy storage system per single charging station.
  • 680 kW: expected value of charging piles per single charging station.
  • 7: optimal number of charging locations.
  • 18: number of charging facilities.

Sources:

  • Xinyang Vocational and Technical College. Optimization of electric vehicle charging facility layout considering the enhancement of renewable energy consumption capacity and improvement of PSO algorithm. Energy Informatics, 2025, 8(1): 1-18. (Energy Informatics - https://energyinformatics.springeropen.com/)
  • Di Zheng, Xinyang Vocational and Technical College. Personal correspondence.