Stochastic Planning for Optimal Allocation of Fast Charging Stations and Wind-Based DGs

To unlock the green potential of electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy sources are necessary for forming a decarbonized grid. With the rising demand for EVs and fast-charging stations (FCSs), the installation of renewable-based distributed generators (DGs) can further defer network upgrades and minimize energy losses. In this article, a new planning model is proposed to site and size FCSs and wind-based DGs, taking into account the stochastic nature of FCSs, residential EV loads, and renewable generation. The proposed planning model considers different cost and revenue components associated with FCSs and wind-based DGs. A typical distribution network is overlaid on a geographic map to illustrate how the network is connected with the municipal layout, thus taking into account practical constraints for installing FCSs and DGs in the vicinity of each bus. A novel scoring scheme that considers practical geographical aspects is developed to quantify the attractiveness of FCS candidate locations to the drivers of EVs. This scheme is essential to ensure installing FCSs at locations that maximize revenue to investors. Results demonstrate that planning for both FCSs and wind-based DGs is effective from a financial standpoint.