Firefly Algorithm with non-homogeneous population: A case study in economic load dispatch problem

Abstract

The economic load dispatch problem is a very important practical problem in electric power systems operation, where an efficient solution can lead to cost and emissions reductions. The use of metaheuristics, as the Firefly Algorithm, for the solution of economic load dispatch problems has been shown to be a more appropriate alternative than classical optimisation methods. In this work, we have proposed a new variant for the Firefly Algorithm, considering a non-homogeneous population. This new variant was validated using ten benchmark functions, and then applied to solve a 15-units economic load dispatch problem, considering transmission line losses, power limits, ramp limits and prohibited zones for each generator, and a 13-units non-convex system with valve-point loading effect in the cost function and power generation limits. The results show that the proposed non-homogeneous variant is able to reach better solutions than the original Firefly Algorithm, using both penalty and non-penalty power balance constraint handling methods. In general, the non-penalty approach reached better results than the penalty method. Moreover, the new variant presented relatively competitive results for the economic load dispatch problems considered, when compared to the best results found in the literature.