Hosting capacity within DERMS: seamless integration of distributed energy resources and electric vehicles

The burgeoning integration of distributed energy resources (DERs), especially electric vehicles (EVs) and intermittent sources like solar and wind, poses significant challenges to distribution grid planning and operations. These challenges are primarily driven by increased demands from EV charging infrastructures and the variability of DER outputs, which can lead to line and cable overloading, voltage fluctuations, and peak load increases. Without strategic planning and integration, these factors may jeopardize grid stability and deter further adoption of EVs and DERs in general. This study introduces an application of Hosting Capacity within Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), designed to assist Distribution System Operators and engineers in effectively accommodating significant integrations of DERs. Through the strategic deployment of the Hosting Capacity application, as part of a broader DERMS planning process, we enable a thorough analysis of the distribution grid's capacity to integrate new charging infrastructures and DER outputs. The efficacy of this integrated approach is demonstrated through a real-world case study, examining the seamless integration of a new 3MW EV charging station and a solar farm of the same size into an existing feeder. This underscores the application's potential to support efficient and resilient grid integration of DERs.