A microgrid deployment framework to support drayage electrification

Joseph N E Lucero; Ruixiao Sun; Brandon A Miller; Simona Onori; Vivek A Sujan

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.113804

A microgrid deployment framework to support drayage electrification

iScience. 2025 Oct 16;28(11):113804. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113804. eCollection 2025 Nov 21.

Authors

Joseph N E Lucero¹, Ruixiao Sun², Brandon A Miller³, Simona Onori^{4

5}, Vivek A Sujan²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
² Buildings and Transportation Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
³ Computational Sciences and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
⁴ Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
⁵ Applied Energy Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.

Abstract

The electrification of heavy-duty commercial vehicles (HDCVs) is key to enhancing air quality and reducing urban air pollution, but it also imposes significant demands on an electric grid not designed for such high loads. Without complementary infrastructure, electrification may yield limited air quality improvements. This article explores the critical role of microgrids-integrating solar photovoltaics and battery storage-in supporting HDCV electrification. We present an integrated framework to identify viable microgrid sites in a given region, estimate deployment costs, and optimize power use to reduce dependence on the grid. As a case study, we apply the framework to the region around the Port of Savannah, GA, USA, demonstrating how targeted microgrid deployment can enhance grid capacity, improve energy resiliency, and support electrified freight transport.

Keywords: Electrical engineering; Energy policy; Engineering.