Solar vehicle to grid simulation model

• Main Author: Lim, Yihn Shin.
• Other Authors: Douglas Leslie Maskell
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Computer science and engineering::Computer applications::Physical sciences and engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/36244
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Due to global warming caused mainly by the greenhouse gases emitted from burning of fuels and the increasing prices of oil, there is a need for Singapore to push for alternative renewable energy substitute and cut down on emissions. With Singapore’s strategic location of being located one degree north of equator, Singapore enjoys abundant sunlight throughout the year, thus making solar photovoltaic a viable alternative. However, despite no seasonal changes and plentiful sunlight, Singapore skies are often cloudy, with rain a common occurrence. This causes drastic peaks and troughs in the collection of photovoltaic power. As with many developed cities around the world, one major emitter of greenhouse gases is vehicles. However, manufacturers are investing and researching into green vehicles, electric cars being one of the cleaner and more efficient options. Singapore is currently studying and encouraging the influx of these green cars, and with its battery pack, it is a good, portable source of power. In this report, there is an investigation on whether collection of the erratic photovoltaic input could be smoothened with the battery pack of electric vehicles as the input, supplying power to normalize the otherwise inconsistent input. So as to input back into the electrical grid, a steadier power supply. The amount of power from electric vehicles that can be relied on will be calculated and it will be determined whether this power could be used to normalize the input curve would then analyzed and concluded. Results from the investigation showed, it is possible to contribute power from electric cars back into the electrical grid so as to obtain a smoother input curve. However due to the highly volatile up and downs of the photovoltaic input, there is quick charging and discharging of the lithium ion batteries. This might result in a significant negative impact on the batteries, where the life cycle would be drastically reduced. Therefore the viability of this system might be diminished.