IIT Guwahati Researchers Develop New Voltage Control System For Active Power Distribution

IIT Guwahati researchers have developed an optimisation-based voltage control approach for active power distribution which could help increase the use of solar energy for charging EVs. The approach involves the use of coordinated operation of photovoltaic power generation and EV charging stations.

The project was led by Professor Sanjib Ganguly, Associate Professor, the department of electronics and electrical engineering (EEE) at IIT Guwahati. Along with him research scholars Arunima Dutta and Dr Chandan Kumar also worked on the project and published their research in the Journal of Sustainable Energy, Grids and Networks.

One of the biggest question marks around EVs is the source of the charging source. Often EVs are often charged using electricity from the grid that is still energised by coal. The challenge around solar energy is intermittent which leads to fluctuation problems in the power distribution networks. Currently, when EVs are charged using uncoordinated systems they cause under voltage of distribution networks and result in efficiency loss. In other words, solar power is not maximised.

This coordinated control approach for power destruction will help renewable sources of power generation be more pervasive for charging electric cars. PV and EV inverters need to work in coordination with other voltage regulation devices to regulate the system voltage.

“We have developed an optimization-based coordinated voltage control approach of power distribution networks to mitigate the overvoltage and under-voltage problems due to high PV generation and high EV charging, respectively,” said Dr Ganguly.

The research team has also developed a three-stage model predictive control system to schedule of EVs and other devices.

“Our three-stage model helps in maintaining bus voltage magnitudes and state-of-charge (SOC) of EV battery within safe limits with minimal usage of control resources and cost of electricity consumption,” added Dr Ganguly.

This approach also allows the transition from passive power distribution to active. Both solar power generation and EVs can enable the transition of power distribution from a passive state to an active system enabling the bidirectional flow of power from the grid to the point of use from the battery of the electric car.