Evaluating the Utility and Economic Viability of Vehicle-to-Grid Technology: Grid Reliability, Stability and Sustainability for the University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus

Presenter

Ryan R. Dougherty

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Dwayne Breger, Department of Environmental Conservation, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A33, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 2 (A21-A40) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

As the UMass Amherst campus transitions to net zero emissions, electric vehicle (EV) charging is expected to become one of the largest energy requirements for the university. This power draw’s impact on the grid is amplified by the intermittent nature of renewable energy, requiring the university to implement battery storage to avoid high demand costs. This project aims to provide an alternative solution.

In collaboration with an undergraduate group managed by Dwayne Breger, research is being performed to analyze the potential societal and techno-economic impacts of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology.

V2G is a system through which consumers may discharge power from their EV’s battery and receive financial compensation. Given that EVs remain idle for around 95% of their lifespan, this makes their batteries an excellent candidate for stabilizing the campus electric grid at a potentially lower upfront cost to the university than traditional battery storage.

This section of the project seeks to analyze campus and state level energy data using financial modeling and market analysis to answer the following questions:

1. What is the status of V2G technology in the EV charging market, and what future projections can be drawn?
2. What opportunities does V2G hold at UMass to facilitate the clean energy transition and the emission reduction goals of UMass Carbon Zero?
3.What are the costs and benefits associated with deploying V2G at scale, and how should these be interpreted for development of a financial modeling tool?

These results will be delivered as a report for use by campus planning.

Keywords

electric vehicles, battery technology, clean energy transition, ancillary services, electricity markets

Research Area

Environmental Science and Sustainability

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