Headroom-based optimization for placement of distributed generation in a distribution substation

Abstract

This paper presents a headroom-based optimization for the placement of distributed generation (DG) in a distribution substation. The penetration limits of DGs into the existing distribution substations are often expressed as a function of the feeder’s hosting capacity (headroom). Therefore, it is important to estimate the reliability of the network's operation as well as that of the limits imposed by the power quality standards by evaluating of the hosting capacity (headroom) of the existing distribution feeder substation. This study aims at developing a novel algorithm for positioning a bus with permissible headroom capacity for DG positioning without causing voltage violations but maximizing the active power supply. Since DG increases short-circuit faults, the algorithm is useful for utility companies to select feeder substations that have permissible headroom capacity for DG installation and thus, contributing to reducing high DG penetration in the network. The modeling and optimization were carried out the Power System Software for Engineers (PSS/E) environment using the IEEE 14-bus test system. The results obtained from the case study show that only two (2) feeder substations out of fourteen (14) have the permissible headroom capacity for DG connections.