Optimal Operation of Microgrid with EV Charging Station, Load Shifting, and DSTATCOM

This work presents an optimization approach for optimal operation of a grid connected microgrid (MG) considering EV charging station, renewable-based generators, DSTATCOM, load shifting, and both active and reactive power loads. DSTATCOM is used to supply the reactive power loads locally instead of purchasing it from the grid. Load shifting strategy is used to reduce dependency on the grid during high electricity pricing hours. The minimization of total annual operating cost of MG is considered as the objective function which includes cost of buying/selling active power from/to the grid, costs related to PV, wind power generator, and DSTATCOM, cost of reactive power purchase from the grid, and operating cost of EV charging station. EV charging station load profile is generated using fuzzy-based approach considering number ofEVs, SOC levels of EVs, and arrival time of EV s to the charging station. The proposed optimization problem is solved using CPLEX solver of GAMS. The simulation results show that the uses of load shifting and DSTACOM facilities significantly reduce the total annual operating cost of MG.