Optimal design of an EV fast charging station coupled with storage in Stockholm

Is battery energy storage a feasible solution for lowering the operational costs of electric vehicle fast charging and reducing its impact on local grids? The thesis project aims at answering this question for the Swedish scenario. The proposed solution (fast charging station coupled with storage) is modelled in MATLAB, and its performance is tested in the framework provided by Swedish regulation and electricity tariff structure. The analysis is centred on the economic performance of the system. Its cost-effectiveness is assessed by means of an optimisation algorithm, designed for delivering the optimal control strategy and the required equipment sizing. A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation is utilised. The configuration and operative costs of conventional fast charging stations are used as a benchmark for the output of the optimisation. Sensitivity analysis is conducted on most relevant parameters: charging load, battery price and tariff structure. The modelling of the charging demand is based on statistics from currently implemented 50 kW DC chargers in Sweden. Overall, results show that with current figures the system may be an economically viable solution for both reducing costs and lowering the impact on the local distribution grid, at least during peak-period pricing. However, sensitivity analysis illustrates how system design and performance are highly dependent on input parameters. Among these, electricity tariff was identified as the most important. Consequently, detailed discussion on the influence of this parameter is conducted. Finally, the study shows how the system is in line with most recent directives proposed by the European Commission.