Levelized Cost of Electricity for Electric Vehicle Charging in Off-Grid Solar-Powered Microgrid: A Practical Case Study

Nizam Halawi (), Dirk Westermann (), Steffen Schlegel and Klaus Joas
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Nizam Halawi: Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Institute of Electrical Power and Control Engineering, Power System Group, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany
Dirk Westermann: Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Institute of Electrical Power and Control Engineering, Power System Group, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany
Steffen Schlegel: Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Institute of Electrical Power and Control Engineering, Power System Group, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany
Klaus Joas: Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Institute of Electrical Power and Control Engineering, Power System Group, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: The number of electric vehicles is constantly increasing in Europe and around the world. Providing a reliable charging infrastructure for the se vehicles is a major challenge for distribution grid operators. Off-grid microgrids have become a promising solution to this challenge, using renewable energy sources such as solar power to meet the demand in a sustainable way. This paper presents a practical study of a solar-powered microgrid operating at a university campus in Ilmenau, Germany, aimed at supporting electric vehicle (EV) charging at public workplaces. The system includes eight charging stations and utilizes renewable energy to reduce grid dependency. Statistical methods, including distribution functions, medians, and mean values, were applied to classify and evaluate the dataset to analyze energy generation and variable load patterns, as well as system performance. The results show that the Ilmenau microgrid can meet EV charging demand during the warm season but underperform during the cold season. An economic analysis determined costs of EUR 0.58/kWh based on pre-2020 component prices and EUR 0.46/kWh based on 2025 market prices. The calculated annual cost per employee is EUR 308.29 over a 20-year period. Increasing energy storage was found to be neither cost-effective nor operationally beneficial. The scalability of the microgrid to larger workplaces is investigated, and recommendations for system improvements are provided.

Keywords: islanded microgrid; off-grid microgrid; economy analysis; cost optimization; generation costs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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