Optimal Location and Size of Distributed Generators for Voltage Stability Improvement in Active Distribution Networks

The electricity market is constantly growing as the demand for electrical energy increases continuously. The integration of distributed generators (DGs) to fulfill this demand is one of the viable solutions. Adding DGs to the distribution network benefits in loss reduction and improves voltage stability. The primary challenge lies in accurately selecting the optimal size and locations of DGs to effectively enhance distribution systems' performance. However, if the selection of size and location is improper, it may reverse DGs advantageous effect. Thus, the paper introduces a novel approach to minimize energy loss by determining the optimal size and placement of DG. A key highlight of this research lies in its methodological framework, which utilizes the voltage stability index (VSI) to obtain suitable locations for DG placement. Additionally, it examines the effects of introducing DG units of varying sizes at suitable locations identified by the comparative analysis of three VSI. The study employs the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to refine the process further to determine the most optimal DG size at feasible locations. The study has been performed and verified on the IEEE-14 bus distribution system.