Demand side integration for electric transport vehicles

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine both the technical feasibility and the commercial viability of several demand-side integration (DSI) programs to utilize the charging flexibility of electric transport vehicles in a logistic facility. DSI is important for improving system reliability and assisting in integrating renewables into the energy system. Design/methodology/approach – A pre-assessment of several DSI programs is performed by considering effort for implementation, costs and economic potential. Afterward, the most promising programs are compared economically on the basis of optimization methods and economic analysis. The analysis is based on a comprehensive electric mobility project dealing with electric transport vehicles operating in container terminals. Findings – The pre-assessment of several potential DSI programs revealed that many of these programs are unsuitable, largely due to regulatory requirements. Although using DSI to optimize the company’s load is feasible, controlled charging based on variable prices is particularly advantageous because the implementation requires modest effort while identifying significant cost-saving potentials. Practical implications – Based on the analysis, other companies using electric transport vehicles have a foundation for identifying the most promising demand-side management program. Originality/value – While most research has focused on individually used electric vehicles, here commercial electric transport vehicles operating in closed systems were investigated as this area of application was found to be particularly suitable for participation in DSI programs.