Macro-Level Methodologies to Assess Grid Impacts and Flexibility from Battery Electric Vehicles: Opportunities to Reform India's Energy Sector

摘要

India's plan for electric vehicle (EV) only sales by 2030, which translates to over 206 million EVs, represent energy and power system challenges. While facing intensified renewable integration and continued grid reliability issues, EVs' new demand for power will invariably further strain the power grid. These challenges represent an opportunity for India's goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity by 30-35% by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. The electrification of transportation sector represents opportunities for (1) new markets; (2) reduced oil imports; (3) reduced vehicular GHG emissions and air quality improvements, and (4) axiomatic new revenue to distressed electric grid distribution companies (DISCOM). Toward a strategic roadmap to unlock these opportunities, this study proposes macro-level methodologies to assess the grid impacts from EV charging and flexibility using the projections based on historical trends in vehicle sales and driving patterns. The results form the preliminary analysis show new annual revenue opportunities of at least $36 billion for DISCOMs, cost savings of $70 billion from oil imports, and grid impacts that can be mitigated by flexibility services. The policy-makers and grid operators can use the results to optimally plan and operate the energy and power needed for the EVs and develop spatially and temporally flexible EV charging infrastructure.