CEA Report Highlights EVs as Key Grid Support

The report emphasizes the potential of EVs to act as flexible loads and decentralized storage resources, offering essential support to power system operations.

November 09, 2023. By News Bureau

In a report, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), in collaboration with experts from prestigious institutions including IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Roorkee, has unveiled a vision for the future where Electric Vehicles (EVs) play a pivotal role in bolstering the grid through peak shaving and load balancing.

The report emphasizes the potential of EVs to act as flexible loads and decentralized storage resources, offering essential support to power system operations. "With smart charging, EVs could adapt their charging patterns to flatten peak demand, and allow valleys and support real-time balancing of the grid by adjusting their charging levels," stated the CEA. This innovative approach could revolutionize the way electricity grids operate, reducing stress during peak hours and ensuring efficient power system operations.

The guidelines outlined in the report propose a comprehensive framework for integrating EVs with the power sector, underlining their dual role as energy consumers and potential energy storage units. Notably, the report identifies a vast potential in parked EVs, which spend a significant portion of their lifetime idle, to serve as a massive electricity storage capacity. This stored energy can be harnessed during peak hours, relieving pressure on the grid and contributing to grid stability.

Furthermore, the report underscores the critical importance of developing smart charging infrastructure to facilitate the seamless integration of renewable energy sources and calls for regulatory policies that support sustainable EV charging system integration. The CEA noted, "The cost reductions in renewable power generation make electricity an attractive low-cost fuel for the transport sector," highlighting the significant role EVs can play in enhancing power system operations through their ability to store and return energy to the grid.

However, the report also acknowledges various challenges, including increased peak demand, congestion in the distribution grid, and the need for infrastructure upgrades to accommodate high-power chargers. It underscores the importance of implementing technology standards, electric load management strategies, battery swapping, and advanced metering infrastructure for the successful implementation of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) services.

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Sustainable Transport

Central Electricity Authority