Optimal Placement and Sizing of PV-Based DG Units in a Distribution Network Considering Loading Capacity

TL;DR

This paper presents a two-stage methodology for optimally placing and sizing PV-based distributed generation units in a distribution network, considering loading capacity to minimize losses and improve voltage stability.

Contribution

It introduces a novel two-stage approach combining iterative load capacity analysis and Monte Carlo optimization for DG placement and sizing.

Findings

Reduces active power losses by up to 65.16% with optimal DG placement.

Significantly improves voltage profiles across all buses.

Enables larger DG capacities while maintaining network stability.

Abstract

This research paper proposes an efficient methodology for the allocation of multiple photovoltaic (PV)-based distributed generation (DG) units in the radial distribution network (RDN), while considering the loading capacity of the network. The proposed method is structured using a two-stage approach. In the first stage, the additional active power loading capacity of the network and each individual bus is determined using an iterative approach. This analysis quantifies the network's additional active loadability limits and identifies buses with high active power loading capacity, which are considered candidate nodes for the placement of DG units. Subsequently, in the second stage, the optimal locations and sizes of DG units are determined using the Monte Carlo method, with the objectives of minimizing voltage deviation and reducing active power losses in the network. The methodology is validated on the standard IEEE 33-bus RDN to determine the optimal locations and sizes of DG units. The results demonstrate that the optimal allocation of one, two, and three DG units, achieved from proposed method, reduces network active power losses by 50.37%, 58.62%, and 65.16%, respectively, and also significantly enhances the voltage profile across all buses. When the obtained results are compared with the results of several existing studies, it is found that the proposed method allows for larger DG capacities and maintains better voltage profiles throughout the RDN.