Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
PHEVs enhance grid efficiency and reduce emissions when deployed as spinning reserves through two primary mechanisms:
1. Cost-Efficient Spinning Reserve Provision
PHEVs act as near-instantaneous, low-cost reserves compared to conventional generators. Unlike traditional units that operate at part-load to provide reserves (incurring efficiency losses and fuel costs), PHEVs require no fuel or operational costs while idle. Their rapid battery response allows grid operators to reduce reliance on online generators, optimizing grid efficiency by reallocating capacity to energy generation rather than reserve holding.
2. Emissions Reductions
By displacing fossil-fuel-based spinning reserves, PHEVs eliminate the need for generators to operate inefficiently at partial loads, which increases emissions per unit of energy produced. Studies show this reduces peaking unit emissions (e.g., natural gas turbines) and allows cleaner baseload plants to operate more efficiently. For example, at 10–15% PHEV penetration, the fleet can supply 47–66% of ancillary service requirements, significantly lowering grid-wide emissions.
Key Data
- Ancillary Service Contribution: At 15% penetration, PHEVs provide 18 million MW-h of reserves, covering 66% of total requirements.
- Efficiency Gains: PHEVs avoid the part-load penalty of conventional reserves, reducing fuel waste and operational costs.
- Emissions Impact: Reductions stem from reduced peaker plant usage and optimized generator efficiency, even when accounting for upstream charging emissions.
This dual role—providing low-cost reserves while displacing high-emission generation—makes PHEVs critical for decarbonizing grid ancillary services.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-phevs-contribute-to-grid-efficiency-and-emissions-reduction-when-used-as-spinning-reserves/
