PhD defense alert: Hakim Azaioud

energhentic
Jun 19
2 min read

Towards LVDC backbones for efficient and sustainable distribution grids through the integration of photovoltaics, battery storage, and synergistic EV charging

You are invited to join the PhD Defense of:

Name: Hakim Azaioud

Title: Towards LVDC backbones for efficient and sustainable distribution grids through the integration of photovoltaics, battery storage, and synergistic EV charging

Topic:

The use of photovoltaic (PV) systems and electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly increasing, leading to congestion of the electricity distribution grid. Since PV systems, EVs, and batteries operate on direct current (DC), a low-voltage DC (LVDC) grid offers an efficient solution. It reduces energy losses and addresses the limitations of traditional low-voltage alternating current (LVAC) grids.

This PhD research compares LVDC with LVAC and demonstrates that LVDC reduces converter losses by 12 percentage points and increases self-sufficiency by 6 percentage points under high PV penetration. EV charging via LVDC also improves power quality and reduces energy consumption by 12%. A control strategy was developed to dynamically optimize voltage, resulting in lower losses, reduced PV curtailment, and the elimination of the need for MPPTs. By combining this control with an EV charging strategy and dynamic PV curtailment, grid stress is reduced and the central AC/DC converter can be downsized.

Finally, a life cycle analysis shows that LVDC is also more environmentally friendly, due to reduced material use for converters and lower energy input requirements. This research thus demonstrates that integrating PV, EVs, and battery storage into an LVDC grid offers substantial energy and environmental benefits.

Date defense: 23 June 2025 | 4 PM

Online: link to follow online