A solution algorithm based on multi-stage tabu search for nested combinatorial optimization problem [dispersed energy storage and generators]

The authors propose a solution algorithm to solve a combinatorial optimization problem which determines installation and operation of dispersed energy storages and generators (DSG) in the electrical power system. The problem to determine the installation of DSG includes a problem which determines the operation of DSG. In the solution algorithm, by temporarily determining the installation of DSG by tabu search (TS), the operation of DSG is also determined by TS. The proposed algorithm consists of nested use of TS which can obtain approximate optimal solutions for the both combinatorial optimization problems (installation and operation). To demonstrate the validity of the algorithm, several numerical results are shown.