A Review on the Allocation of Sustainable Distributed Generators with Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Abstract

Environmental concerns and the Paris agreements have prompted intensive efforts towards greener and more sustainable transportation. Persistent expansion of electric vehicles (EV) in the transportation sector requires electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) to accommodate the increased demand. Offsetting demand and alleviating the resultant electrical grid stress necessitates establishing grid-integrated renewable energy sources (RESs) where these sustainable strategies are accompanied by variable-weather-related obstacles, such as voltage fluctuations, grid instability, and increased energy losses. Strategic positioning of EVCSs and RES as distributed generation (DG) units is crucial for addressing technical issues. While technical constraints have received considerable attention, there is still a gap in the literature with respect to incorporating the additional complex optimization problems and decision-making processes associated with economic viability, social acceptance, and environmental impact. A possible solution is the incorporation of an appropriate multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach for feasible trade-off solutions. Such methods offer promising possibilities that can ease decision-making and facilitate sustainable solutions. In this context, this paper presents a review of published approaches for optimizing the allocation of renewable energy DG units and EVCSs in active distribution networks (ADNs). Promising published optimization approaches for the strategic allocation of multiple DG units and EVCSs in ADNs have been analyzed and compared.