Implementation of an evolutionary algorithm in planning investment in a power distribution system

Abstract

The definition of an investment plan to implement in a distribution power system, is a task that constantly faced by utilities. This work presents a methodology for determining the investment plan for a distribution power system under a short-term, using as a criterion for evaluating investment projects, associated costs and customers benefit from its implementation. Given the number of projects carried out annually on the system, the definition of an investment plan requires the use of computational tools to evaluate, a set of possibilities, the one that best suits the needs of the present system and better results. That is why in the job, implementing a multi objective evolutionary algorithm SPEA (Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algortithm), which, based on the principles of Pareto optimality, it deliver to the planning expert, the best solutions found in the optimization process. The performance of the algorithm is tested using a set of projects to determine the best among the possible plans. We analyze also the effect of operators on the performance of evolutionary algorithm and results..