Optimal Location and Sizing of Wind Turbine Generators and Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage Units in a Distribution System using Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm

Abstract

Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are now a common feature in many utilities in the world. In fact, the penetration of power from Wind Turbine Generator (WTGs) into the power distribution system is currently on the rise. However, its variability – combined with variations in load demand- means that there is significant impact on the technical performance of the grid in terms of voltage stability, voltage deviations, and power losses. Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) unit has been shown to be very efficient in addressing these problems because of their fast response, but their high investment cost is a significant barrier. This Paper investigates the performance of a distribution system with embedded WTGs and SMES units through a multi-objective optimization platform to improve technical performance while considering the total cost. Using Voltage Sensitivity Factor (VSF) and the Grasshopper Optimization (GO) algorithm, a weighted sum Multi-objective Function (MOF) is formulated to improve the performance of the distribution system by determining the optimal location and size of WTGs and SMES units, with the weight factors subject to the preference of the decision maker. Simulation tests performed using the proposed algorithm on the IEEE 33-bus distribution system show significant improvement. For example, relative to the base case (no WTGs and SMES units), the following results are found when a WTGs and SMES units are installed: voltage stability shows an improvement of 28.56%; voltage deviation improved by 50.67%; and energy losses were reduced by 29.34%. Results obtained using the GO algorithm were compared with those obtained by equilibrium optimizer (EO) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms. The numerical results and simulations imply that the employment of WTGs and SMES units can successfully achieve minimization of energy-loss and voltage-deviation as well as enhancement of voltage-stability, and thereby significantly improve the performance of distribution system while considering the total cost.