Efficient reduction of power losses by allocating various DG types using the ZOA algorithm

Abstract

The continuous challenge of ensuring energy supply is a significant concern. Traditionally, utilities have addressed increasing load demands by building new central power plants or expanding existing ones. However, these methods are time-consuming and costly, providing only short-term solutions. Additionally, power plants are often far from load centers, resulting in higher power losses during long-distance transmission. The integration of distributed generation (DG), characterized by smaller scale and lower capital costs, with nearby consumers can effectively address these challenges. Due to the significant influence of DG penetration and their specific locations on the distribution system's performance, this study offers a novel Zebra Optimization Algorithm (ZOA). The suggested ZOA is used to optimize the capacity and position of various DG units connected to a radial distribution system to reduce power losses and study the stability of the system after DG allocation using the Voltage Stability Index (VSI). The evaluation is conducted using the IEEE 33-bus test system, considering various scenarios including single and multiple DGs of different types. The results demonstrate that in the best scenario, the ZOA can reduce losses by up to 94.25 % and improve the VSI from 0.69643 to 0.9605. These findings highlight the superior performance of the ZOA over other techniques in optimizing DG placement and sizing for power system performance.