Firefly Algorithm for Establishing the Optimal Power of DG Units

The paper analyzes the impact of distributed generation (DG) energy upon the real power losses in a radial power grid. The study is applied on a standard 33-bus IEEE power grid and uses a nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm to optimize the values and the position of an active power DG unit. Optimal network operation involves minimum values of power losses and maintaining the voltage level in the nodes within the imposed limits. The determinations were performed by associating the firefly algorithm to the calculation of power losses in the analyzed network.