The potential of electrified transport for enhancing flexibility in integrated renewable energy systems

This study investigates the role of battery electric vehicles in a future carbon-neutral European energy system, focusing on different vehicle charging strategies and their effects on the power system. Using an integrated planning model, the study analyzes the interaction between battery electric vehicle charging strategies and other flexibility options within the energy system. It compares three charging strategies – passive charging, flexible charging, and bi-directional Vehicle-to-Grid charging – which provide increasing levels of flexibility. The findings emphasize the cost-saving potential of flexible charging strategies. Flexible charging can reduce overall system costs by 7%, with the most significant savings and shifts seen in power generation. There is reduced investment in wind power, whereas investment in photovoltaic (solar) systems increases significantly compared to passive charging. Flexible charging improves solar energy’s competitiveness over wind power by allowing peak solar generation to be absorbed as it occurs. There are also notable savings in fast-response options such as gas turbines, with 75% lower capacity investment in the scenario with the most flexible charging. In addition, investment in Power-to-X technologies, especially electrolyzers, is also lower due to more effective load shifting. Although flexible charging strategies may lead to challenging load peaks in the distribution grid, the study indicates that limiting the increase in load peaks to 60% can still result in a 6% reduction in overall system costs compared to passive charging. Our study results underpin that strategic charging management can facilitate the integration of renewable energy while lowering costs.