Optimal Placement and Sizing of Distributed Generation for Power Loss Minimization in Distribution Network using Particle Swarm Optimization Technique

Electrical power distribution network is the final stage in the delivery of electric power to consumers. It suffers from high power losses along its radial lines, and there is a need to minimize these losses. One of the technologies used in reducing losses is the application of Distributed Generation (DG). However, inappropriate sizing or placement of DG could inadvertently increase losses in the network. Therefore, this study carries out Optimal Placement and Sizing of DG (OPSDG) in the distribution system using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) in reducing the total power loss of the distribution network. A mathematical model of distribution system without and with DG was developed from one voltage source representation to generate a set of equations using Bus Injection to Branch Current (BIBC) and Branch Current to Bus Voltage (BCBV) load flow technique. The model was optimized using PSO and implemented with MATLAB. In each case, the Loss Reduction Index (LRI) was computed. The approach was used on a Nigeria Distribution network 11 kV 34-bus Ayepe feeder of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). The total LRI obtained using analytical technique for sizing and placement of DG is 0.1808 p.u. With the incorporation of DG using PSO, the total LRI is 0.2636 p.u. The best location and size of the DG unit in the network after optimization is at bus 14 with an active power of 5.00 MW. The results established that using PSO for DG placement and sizing significantly reduced the distribution network total power loss.