STATCOM Allocation Using Firefly Algorithm for Loss Minimization and Voltage Profile Enhancement

The Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) is a controller that regulates network characteristics to improve network power transfer capabilities. Nevertheless, in order to properly utilize it, it must be allocated optimally. The STATCOM's ideal location and capacity to handle some of the transmission system's difficulties is referred to as the “STATCOM allocation.” As a result, this research uses the firefly algorithm (FA) to assign STATCOM to improve system voltage magnitudes and mitigate power losses. The proposed approach was implemented in a Matlab program and validated on an IEEE 14-bus network. According to the findings, the overall real and reactive power losses were reduced by 11.73 and 14.7%, respectively. The magnitudes of the voltages at buses 7 and 13 were reduced while remaining within the required voltage restrictions, resulting in a better network voltage profile. As a result, optimum STATCOM allocation increases the network's capacity and performance.