Assessment of the impact of electric vehicles on the distribution network

V bližnji prihodnosti bodo električna vozila nedvomno zamenjala vozila na fosilni pogon. Pri vseh vprašanjih in razlagah o električnih vozilih in njihovem hitremu razvoju se nam porodi najbolj pomembno vprašanje: kako bi množična uporaba električnih vozil vplivala na distribucijsko omrežje, o katerem ni veliko govora, vendar brez odgovora na to vprašanje ne bo mogoče nadaljevati z razvojem elektromobilnosti, saj imajo lahko napačne analize pri takem vprašanju katastrofalne posledice – govorimo lahko o razpadu omrežja. Ker obstoječa energetska omrežja učinkovito in zanesljivo delujejo že približno sto let, želimo, da tako tudi ostane. Zato se tu soočimo z analizo, ki vključuje nove trende oz. nove izzive na tem področju. Tu govorimo o električnih avtomobilih, ki prinašajo naraščanje porabe energije, ne samo povečanje koničnih moči, temveč tudi nove konične obremenitve (predvsem ponoči zaradi cenejše energije). Te se vključujejo že v obstoječo problematiko, kot so okoljska problematika, razpršena proizvodnja, prostorske omejitve in težave z umeščanjem v prostor ter trenutno tudi zelo problematična – starajoča se infrastruktura. Za ugotovitev, da trenutni elektroenergetski sistem (vsaj NN) ni pripravljen na takšen skok porabe električne energije, ki ga prinaša elektromobilnost, ni potrebna izčrpna analiza, saj vemo, da se distribucijska podjetja s preobremenjenostjo omrežja in transformatorji premajhnih moči srečujejo že zdaj v sodobnem sistemu. Kot bomo videli, napoved, da trenutni elektroenergetski sistem z obstoječimi koncepti načrtovanja ni pripravljen na učinkovito vključevanje novih porabnikov oz. elementov, ni napačna. Menimo, da bodo morala distribucijska podjetja tej problematiki posvetiti še veliko pozornosti, saj je razvoj elektromobilnosti, še posebej v zadnjih letih, ekstremen. To bi lahko pomenilo, da nepripravljenost na nove trende privede do kolapsa omrežja. K sreči se razvoj takih trendov ne zgodi čez noč, kar pomeni, da se elektroenergetski sistem lahko počasi in postopoma nadgrajuje – lahko bi rekli, da je to nekakšna finančna razbremenitev. Če se to ne bo zgodilo (sprotno vlaganje v sistem), bi stanje privedlo do prevelikih finančnih obremenitev, kar v najboljšem primeru pomeni počasnejši razvoj na področju energetike v Sloveniji. Vsem tem negativnim scenarijem se lahko izognemo z dobro organizacijo in s pametnim programom. V programu razvoja pametnih omrežij v Sloveniji je napisan celoten načrt nadgradnje današnjega koncepta obratovanja in načrtovanja sistema in v celoto učinkovito vključuje tudi nove elemente, kot so npr. odjemalci z možnostjo prilagajanja porabe, električni avtomobili, hranilniki električne energije itd.In the near future, electric vehicles will undoubtedly replace fossil fuel vehicles. Among all the questions and explanations, considering electric vehicles and the rapid development of them, the most important is how can massive usage of electric vehicles affect the distribution network, which is not much discussed, but without answering this question it will not be possible to continue the development of electromobility. The consequences of an incorrect analysis of such a problem may have a catastrophic effect – we are talking about the collapse of the network. Existing energy networks have been operating efficiently and reliably for about a hundred years, and we want it to remain so. That is why we are faced with an analysis that includes new trends and new challenges in this area. We are reffering to electric cars that bring an increase in energy consumption, not just an increase in peak power but also a new peak load (especially at night due to cheaper energy). These are included in the already existing issues, such as environmental issues, dispersed production, spatial constraints and space placement problems, and currently also very problematic – older, aging infrastructure. There is no need for any careful analysis in order to find out that the electricity system (at least low voltage) is not prepared for such a leap in electricity consumption caused by electromobility, as we know that distribution companies are already facing overload networks and transformers with little power in the modern energy system. As we will see, the announcement that the current power system with the existing concepts of planning is not ready to effectively integrate new consumers or elements, is not incorrect. We believe that distribution companies will have to pay a lot of attention to this problem, because the development of electromobility, especially in recent years, is extremely high. This could mean that unwillingness to new trends leads to a collapse of the networkfortunately, such trends do not develop overnight, which means that the power system can be slowly and gradually upgraded – it could be said to be a kind of financial relief. If this does not happen, the situation would lead to excessive financial burdens and a slower development in the field of energy in Slovenia. These negative scenarios can be avoided by a good organization and a good programme. The entire plan of upgrading the present concept of operation and system design is written in the programme of smart grid development in Slovenia, where it effectively, as a whole, integrates new elements, such as consumers with the ability to adjust consumption, electric cars, power savers, etc