Open Source Software: Caldera Charge: Innovating EV Charging Infrastructure Simulation for Grid Efficiency and Sustainability

Caldera Charge: Innovating EV Charging Infrastructure Simulation for Grid Efficiency and Sustainability

As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly prevalent, the imperative for sophisticated charging infrastructure and intelligent grid management intensifies. Caldera Charge is an advanced simulation platform uniquely designed to explore these challenges, offering critical insights into EV charging's grid impact and fostering innovative charging solutions.

The surge in electric vehicle adoption introduces a complex new dynamic to energy consumption, significantly affecting our electrical grids. Before Caldera Charge, a holistic tool to model the interplay between EV charging infrastructure and grid performance was missing, creating a barrier to developing effective strategies to sustainably support the rising demand for electricity. This gap left utilities, municipalities, and service providers searching for actionable insights.

Supported by the DOE's Vehicle Technologies Office and Office of Electricity, Caldera Charge is a leading edge in EV charging simulation. It features two core components: the Infrastructure Charging Module (ICM) and the Charging Decision Module (CDM). The ICM focuses on high-fidelity EV charging models and intelligent charging algorithms, accurately simulating the direct impact of EV charging on the grid. Meanwhile, the CDM offers innovative scheduling mechanisms, allowing for studying charging strategies and pricing models to optimize public charging infrastructure. Written in C++11 for computational efficiency and Python for adaptable co-simulation, Caldera Charge enables detailed analysis and strategic planning across transportation and electrical networks through the Helics co-simulation framework.

Advantages:

• Targeted Simulation Modules: Distinct modules for infrastructure modeling (ICM) and decision strategies (CDM) cater to specific aspects of EV charging and grid interaction.
• Accurate Grid Impact Analysis: Employs extensive data for precise modeling of charging behavior under diverse grid conditions.
• Innovative Charging Management: Implements cutting-edge algorithms for intelligent charging, minimizing grid strain during peak demand.
• Scalable and Flexible Design: Supports high-performance computing and integrates C++11 and Python for comprehensive simulation scenarios.
• Comprehensive Co-Simulation Capability: Bridges transportation and grid simulations, assessing wide-ranging effects of EV charging.

Applications:

• Utility Companies: To strategically manage grid loads and enhance power distribution reliability in response to EV charging demands.
• Urban and Transportation Planners: For integrating sustainable EV charging solutions within urban development and public transport systems.
• Academic and Research Institutions: To conduct in-depth studies on EV integration impacts and develop future energy frameworks.
• EV Charging Service Providers: Optimizing network operations and charging station deployment for efficiency and user satisfaction.
• Policy Makers and Regulatory Bodies: Informing policy and regulatory guidelines to support the transition to electric mobility.

Unlock the potential of Caldera Charge to revolutionize your EV charging infrastructure planning and grid management strategies. Explore our comprehensive simulation platform and contribute to shaping the future of electric mobility and energy efficiency. Visit our GitHub pages for Caldera Grid and Caldera ICM to access the software and documentation and become part of our innovative community.

INL’s Technology Deployment department focuses exclusively on licensing intellectual property and partnering with industry collaborators capable of commercializing our innovations. Our goal is to commercialize the technologies developed by INL researchers. We do not engage in purchasing, manufacturing, procurement decisions, or providing funding. Additionally, this is not a call for external services to assist in the development of this technology.