DG allocation and reconfiguration in distribution systems by metaheuristic optimisation algorithms: a comparative analysis

Abstract

Using distributed generation (DG) units is a viable strategy for improving the characteristics of electric distribution systems, in terms of power loss, voltage profile and power congestion. Finding optimal location and setting of DG's is referred to as DG allocation problem and is typically formulated as an optimisation problem which is solved by metaheuristic optimisation algorithms. In this paper, the performance of four metaheuristic optimisation algorithms, including particle swarm optimisation (PSO), grey wolf optimisation (GWO), backtracking search algorithm (BSA) and whale optimisation algorithm (WOA) in solving DG allocation problem and also in solving simultaneous reconfiguration and DG allocation problem have been compared. The simulations have been done for six different scenarios. The results indicate the outperformance of GWO in most of the cases.