Role of Electric Vehicles in Transition to Low Carbon Power System—Case Study Croatia

Abstract

One of the major tools for the implementation of low carbon strategy goals is increasing the penetration of renewable sources, which are mostly intermittent in nature, into the power system that also increases the needs for additional storage and flexibility capacity in the system. Among other possible solutions, one very most promising tool is the significant electrification of the transport sector. A slightly modified and already verified power system model used for Croatian low-carbon strategy was used here. The PLEXOS software was used to model the Croatian power system by simulating different scenarios. Two scenarios were examined: with and without electric vehicles. This research aimed to evaluate the total decrease in CO2 emissions from both the transport and power sectors due to the increased number of electrical vehicles. The analysis of the Croatian power system was used to assess the flexibility potential of such a large number of electrical vehicles on power system flexibility while considering the volatile nature of wind and solar. Additionally, a question regarding solar availability and simultaneous low-availability of parked electrical vehicles was also examined.