Grid-aware EV charging and future-proof grid design: policy decision-making by a Dutch DSO

This paper aims to demonstrate the importance of grid-aware charging and its benefits for various levels of the distribution grid, as well as its role in the future-proof grid design for DSOs. With close collaboration between CPOs and Dutch DSOs, reducing firm capacity and increasing non-firm capacity, down to a 0 kW level for short intervals, is very important for enabling a better use of our grid at all levels. The anticipated gains of grid-aware public charging include a 2.4% reduction of the peak power at primary substation level and a 160 kW peak reduction per LV grid in Liander’s region (a Dutch DSO). As a conclusion, Liander has made a policy framework for its grid design to take into account grid-aware charging for public charging poles. In perspective, despite regulatory challenges, the potential in grid-aware home-charging and broader grid-aware charging would be a game changer for the energy transition.