Techno-Economic Assessment of GSA-Based Optimal Capacitor Placement in Power Networks

Power distribution systems serve as the critical interface between utilities and end-users. Connecting shunt capacitors within these networks provides essential reactive power compensation, improves voltage profiles, and minimizes overall power losses. Consequently, identifying the optimal placement and sizing of capacitor banks is essential to reducing annual operational and investment costs. This paper proposes a Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) approach to determine the optimal location and reactive power (kVAr) rating of capacitors in radial distribution systems. The primary objective is to minimize total annual expenditure and system losses while maintaining bus voltages within standard operational limits. The proposed method is evaluated using the standard IEEE 69-bus test system, and the numerical results are compared against modern metaheuristic techniques to demonstrate GSA superior performance in cost reduction and net economic savings.