Utilizing autonomous airport parking facilities as virtual power plants to provide frequency containment reserve

With the rise of inverter-based renewables, grid stability is increasingly strained. Electric vehicles (EVs) offer unique potential in enhancing this stability through intelligent (dis-)charging control; by aggregation, they can provide significant balancing services to network operators. To exploit this opportunity, airport parking is particularly well suited due to the large number of vehicles with predictable departure times. By using the novel Automated Valet Charging (AVC) technology, parking facilities can optimally schedule EVs—autonomously maneuvering cars to and from charge points and connecting them robotically. We propose using AVC-capable parking facilities as virtual power plants (VPPs), providing fast-acting frequency containment reserve (FCR). This study’s key contributions are: 1) presenting the AVC VPP concept and formalizing its two core optimization tasks, 2) developing a modular co-simulation architecture for comprehensive evaluation, 3) performing preliminary experiments, to assess feasibility and to identify simulation challenges, and 4) outlining strategic recommendations for practical AVC VPP implementation. The results suggest the concept’s potential in utilizing airport EV parking for FCR, promising additional revenue for parking operators without sacrificing customer satisfaction. However, for conclusive assessment, extended simulation models are necessary. Furthermore, prequalification emerges as a significant obstacle to profitable real-world applications. Ultimately, AVC VPPs may help with transforming EVs from being a burden on the grid to a valuable asset.