Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Renewable Energy (RE) for Optimal Management of Grid Peak Demand and Carbon Footprint: A State-of-the-Art Survey

Greening the transportation and electricity sectors is essential to address the pressing global concerns of carbon footprint, global warming, oil independence, fossil fuel depletion, and energy security. As a response, the transportation sector is swiftly shifting from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles (that run on fossil fuels) to electric vehicles (EVs). Similarly, the electricity sector is also rapidly transitioning from power generation based on fossil-fuel sources to power generation based on renewable energy sources (RESs). The rapid proliferation of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) presents both great advantages and major challenges to the utility smart grid operation. The uncontrolled charging patterns of large-scale PEVs, which require huge charging power, lead to a massive increase in peak demand, grid operation costs, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, etc. This paper presents a state-of-the-art survey of current research literature that focus on the implementation of V2G and renewable energy (RE) technologies as effective strategies for optimal management of grid peak demand and carbon footprint. G2V and V2G interactions of PEV with the grid are briefly explained. A concise overview of the optimal V2G scheduling is also provided. The research gaps are identified, and future research directions are recommended.