Optimal Location and Sizing of Static Var Compensator ( <scp>SVC</scp> ) to Improve Voltage Profile in Distribution Network

ABSTRACT Insufficient reactive power in electrical power systems leads to voltage instability, limiting the ability to deliver power to loads and adversely affecting overall system reliability. This study employs the IEEE 33‐bus system to investigate the effectiveness of a Static Var Compensator (SVC) in enhancing a distribution network's voltage profile. The system was modeled and simulated in the Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP), both with and without SVC integration. An Optimal Capacitor Placement (OCP) strategy was used to establish the optimal location and sizing for the SVC, ensuring that bus voltages are kept within the permitted operational limit of 0.950–1.050 p.u. Power flow analysis was performed using the Newton–Raphson method to investigate the network's voltage performance in both scenarios. The results indicate that the average bus voltage improved from 94.69% without compensation to 97.90% with SVC installation. The optimally placed SVC, rated at ±3.6 Mvar (3.6 Mvar capacitive and 3.6 Mvar inductive), effectively stabilized the system and improved voltage quality. These findings confirm that SVC integration is a viable and efficient solution for enhancing voltage stability in distribution networks.