Local dynamic frequency response using domestic electric vehicles

Abstract There is an increasing interest to penetrate low carbon vehicles into the transport system. Take the Great Britain (GB) as an example, the number of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will make up to at least half of new vehicle sales. Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to contribute to the ancillary services of the frequency response because EVs can provide immediate frequency response and sustain its response for considerable period of time. This paper addresses the design of a Dynamic Vehicle Grid Support (DVGS) control algorithm for the provision of local frequency response. The DVGS considers a dynamic relationship between the state of charge of EVs and frequency set-points. Thus, it can be installed locally avoiding the cost and the time delay associated with the communication system between EVs and the control centre. The DVGS control algorithm was demonstrated using the reduced GB transmission power system model with a reduced system inertia. The simulation results showed that the EVs are promising assets for the provision of frequency response and reducing the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF). Moreover, EVs can be controlled geographically to provide the zonal frequency response, reducing the dependency on the power from the spinning reserve, especially with a reduced system inertia. The financial benefits of using the aggregated DVGS for firm frequency response (FFR) service in the GB is calculated.