Optimal StatCom placement using Gravitational Search Algorithm

A nature inspired evolutionary computing approach called, Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) has been proposed for optimal placement of StatCom, to maximize the voltage stability margin and also improve voltage profile by minimizing the total voltage deviation in the power system. The proposed nature inspired evolutionary computing approach has been performed using two steps. As the first step, the weakest buses selected for placement of StatCom using modal analysis. In the second step GSA is applied, to select the optimal allocation of StatCom considering these selected weakest buses. Fuzzy performance Index has been used, for combining the various objectives which are conflicting in nature. The proposed nature inspired computing technique (GSA) has been tested on the standard IEEE 14-bus system considering the stressed condition as well as contingencies during stressed condition. To establish the superiority of proposed GSA approach, the results using Genetic Algorithm (GA) were compared the performance of GSA. On the basis of comparison, GSA has been found to be superior to GA with respect to it convergence characteristic and accuracy as well.