Optimum Distributed Generation Location, Type, and Penetration for Radial Distribution Networks

Abstract

This paper studies the effect of implementing distributed generation (DG) units into radial distribution systems to optimize the electrical performance of the network. The IEEE 13 bus radial test feeder was chosen as an example for radial distribution networks. The DG units are categorized by the type of power generated, which are apparent power (P+jQ) and active power (P only). The optimization process uses two techniques, the first is the generalized reduced gradient (GRG) and the second is the genetic algorithm (GA). The paper studied and compared the impact of implementing both categorize of DG units, using both optimization techniques on the electrical performance of the radial distribution system, from three points of view; the overall system losses, the bus voltage, the generation costs. Graphs are presented to show the effect of varying the penetration level (i.e. DG size) with each point of view separately, in addition to a comparison between the performance of GRG and GA. Finally the DG units with apparent power generation are preferred from the three points of view. And the GA performance is better with larger number of variables.