Monte-Carlo simulation based multi-objective optimum allocation of renewable distributed generation using OpenCL

Abstract

Monte-Carlo simulation (MCS) is the most accurate technique for considering the stochastic nature of renewable energy resources in power system analysis and planning. However, due to its heavy computational burden, MCS is rarely utilized when solving the multi-objective renewable distributed generation (DG) allocation problem. In order to address this problem, this paper proposes a novel methodology to exploit the massively parallel architecture of graphics processing units (GPU) in a way that enables the use of MCS when solving the multi-objective renewable DG allocation problem. First, the renewable DG allocation problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem to minimize the lines losses and the costs pertaining to installing renewable DG units in the distribution network. Then, a parallelized implementation of NSGA-II using OpenCL is described in details to solve the formulated multi-objective renewable DG planning problem. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methodology are validated using the IEEE 32-bus test system and two real distribution test systems. The results show that the proposed parallelized implementation can enable the use of MCS for modelling the generation and demand uncertainties when solving the multi-objective renewable DG allocation problem using a metaheuristic approach.