From rooftops to roads: Bilbao's geospatial solar and EV fusion

The electrification of mobility is a promising solution to effectively reduce CO₂ emissions in urban areas. The integration of electric vehicles (EVs) and solar energy is a practical approach for mitigating the strain on power grids and storing surplus energy. However, the selection of sites for EV charging stations (EVCS) integrated with renewable sources is challenging. This study aims to develop a scalable and highly spatially explicit methodology for identifying optimal locations for EVCS powered by photovoltaic (PV). A novel decision framework for EVCS site selection is put forward, entailing the design of a parametric solar tool, and integrating PV and EV systems to power EVCS. This GIS-based methodology can be used to evaluate the parameters and constraints for EVCS placement, estimate solar rooftop potential, and integrate them into the power grid. The local solar energy potential complements the installation of additional on-street charging points in power substations. Results show that the city centre and a small region in the east are the most suitable locations for installing EVCS in Bilbao. Moreover, the results demonstrate the potential for charging 16% more EVs through a grid-connected PV system without increasing the capacity of the distribution substations of a district in Bilbao.