Revolutionising Smart Home Energy Management: Advanced Integration of Solar Photovoltaics and E-Vehicles

Abstract

The urgent need to mitigate environmental pollution and decrease fuel dependency has driven the development of renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles (EVs). However, integrating these into the power grid poses challenges due to production instability and irregular charging patterns. This study proposes an innovative energy management strategy for smart homes equipped with both EVs and photovoltaic (PV) systems. Utilizing a two-stage monitoring system, the strategy flexibly controls energy flow to minimize electricity costs and align with load curves while meeting power requirements. Results demonstrate distinct efficiencies among scenarios, with Case 2 exhibiting the best performance, followed by Case 3 and Case 1. Notably, integrating PV systems significantly reduces energy expenses, with savings ranging from $2.30 to $2.42 across cases. The study underscores the effectiveness of PV technology in residential energy management, emphasizing substantial cost reductions and decreased grid dependency. Through strategic battery usage and optimized PV energy utilization, the integration of renewable energy and EVs offers a promising pathway towards sustainable and resilient energy systems in smart homes.