Maximum Power Penetration of Distributed Energy Resources with Sizing and Location

The motivations for incorporating renewable energy sources into power distribution networks are the diminishing availability of non-renewable energy resources, increasing demand for electricity, and the imperative for clean energy generation. It is important to improve the total capacity of distributed energy resources (DERs) that can be smoothly integrated into a specific feeder without adversely affecting voltage levels, protection mechanisms, power quality, and without requiring feeder upgrades or modifications. However, the escalating injection of DERs into the network may lead to operational challenges, including voltage fluctuations, reverse power flow, power quality issues, and thermal overloading of distribution lines, among others. This study presents an optimization technique for efficient incorporation of DERs into a distribution system. Here, a particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based algorithm is developed for the maximum penetration of DERs not for the only optimal size but also their location in the power system. We employ the Newton-Raphson load flow method to analyze power flow, considering major constraints such as overvoltage, undervoltage, and ampacity. The bus voltages were significantly improved after the penetration of three DER units in the system. The analysis is validated through MATLAB/Simulink simulation using the IEEE-33 bus distribution system as a testbed.