Distribution networks are facing new challenges with the emergence of smart grids, such as capacity limitation, voltage instability and many others. These challenges can potentially lead to brownouts and blackouts. This paper presents an innovative technique for the optimal siting and sizing of the distributed generators (DG) in radial distribution networks (RDNs). The proposed technique uses a novel algorithm that combines improved grey wolf optimization with particle swarm optimization (I-GWOPSO) by incorporating dimension learning based hunting (DLH). The proposed I-GWOPSO employs novel aspect of DLH to reduce the gap between local and global search to keep the balance. The main optimization objectives aim to optimally site and size the DG with minimization of active power loss, voltage deviation and improvement of voltage stability in RDNs. Case studies are simulated with IEEE 33bus and IEEE 69-bus test systems, for optimal allocation of DG units by considering various power factors. The results validate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm with a significant reduction of real power loss (up to 98.1%), improvement in voltage profile and optimal reduced cost of DG operation with optimal sizing across all considered cases. A comparative analysis of the proposed approach with existing literature validates improved performance of the proposed algorithm.

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There are three main parts of an electric power system—power generation, transmission, and distribution. For electric companies, it is a tough challenge to reduce losses of the power system and deliver lossless and reliable power from the generating station to the consumer end. Nowadays, modern power systems are more complex due to gradually increasing loads. In the electrical power system, especially in transmission and distribution networks, there are power losses due to many reasons such as overloading of the line, long distribution lines, low power factors, corona losses, and unsuitable conductor size. The main performance factor of the power system is reliability. Reliability means continuity of the power supply without any interruptions from the generating station to the demand side. Thus, due to these power losses, there are voltage stability problems and economic losses in the electrical system. The voltage stability of the power system can be increased by improving the voltage profile. In this paper, different techniques are analyzed that include the integration of wind power, the integration of photovoltaic power, and reactive power injection by integrating FACTS devices. These techniques are applied to the IEEE 57 bus system with standard data using simulation models developed in MATLAB. Thus, the results of the analysis of these techniques have been compared with each other.