Overloading the Grid with Car Charging

 Sufficient infrastructure ready?

Too Many Electric Cars Charging at Night May Overload Electrical Grid

By New Scientist, September 29, 2022

The computer models showed that having more drivers charging during the day could reduce the grid’s energy storage requirements by between $700 million and $1.5 billion.

Computer modeling by researchers at Stanford University determined that the western U.S. power grid should invest in daytime charging options for electric vehicles (EVs) because primarily charging EVs at home overnight could put a strain on the power grid.

The researchers developed computer models that calculate the impact of driver charging behaviors and available charging station infrastructure at home and in public places on peak net electricity.

The models showed a 25% increase in peak net electricity demand when states hit 50% EV ownership and drivers mainly charge their vehicles at home overnight.

However, the increase in peak net electricity demand dropped to 7.5% by increasing daytime charging options.

The researchers also found that an increase in daytime charging could result in a $700-million to $1.5-billion reduction in the grid's energy storage requirements.

From New Scientist

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AI to Keep the Lights on?

 This deserves a deeper dive, especially if you are into complex modeling of the operation of systems.  The contest is over, but by examining the overview of the statement of the problem, I was impressed.  I am continuing to review.   Was particularly interested if they could model and minimize  or potentially re design Power Grids for events like solar CMEs. An ultimate grid security issue. Could this be a starting point? Anyone know?  We worked with Los Alamos and they were impressive. 

Los Alamos scientists take top prizes in national competition to help improve electrical grid

Artificial intelligence-driven algorithms could help keep the lights on

Los Alamos, N.M., Oct. 4, 2021—Two scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory took top prizes in a national competition for developing algorithms to help improve the resiliency and efficiency of the electrical grid. The algorithm developed by Hassan Hijazi of the Applied Mathematics and Plasma Physics Group took first place in all four divisions, while the one developed by Carleton Coffrin of the Laboratory’s Information Systems and Modeling Group placed second in two of the four divisions. Their work outperformed 14 other entries in the competition:   https://gocompetition.energy.gov/   funded by Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), a United States government agency that promotes and funds research and development of advanced energy technologies.

“Grid security is a national security issue, which is why this is important work for Los Alamos,” said Nancy Jo Nicholas, associate Laboratory director for Global Security at Los Alamos. “Every five minutes, optimization problems arise in the U.S. electrical grid that require a mathematical solution. Hassan’s and Carleton’s achievement will help advance national efforts to create a more reliable, resilient, and secure electrical grid.”  ...