Impact of Traffic Peak Timing on Renewable Energy Utilization of Self-Consistent Supply System of Highway Service Areas

The microgrid-based energy self-consistent supply system (ESSS) for highway service areas uses renewable energy, primarily photovoltaic (PV) generation, to meet electric vehicle (EV) charging demands. A study explored how traffic behavior influences ESSS development and utilization, focusing on whether specific traffic features impact design schemes to ensure real-time power balance and long-term energy stability. Using a stochastic integrated optimization method, the study isolated the effect of traffic peak timing on ESSS performance, separate from control adjustments, parameter changes, and fluctuations in PV generation or charge demand. Analyzing Pareto optimal performances across traffic scenarios, it revealed that traffic patterns significantly shape renewable energy utilization and operational economy. A traffic peak one hour before PV generation peak optimizes ESSS, boosting performance by 8.8% and cutting capital costs by 7.1% compared to aligned peaks. A three-hour lag in traffic peak is the worst scenario, increasing costs by 43.2% and reducing performance by 71.3%.