Multi-objective Optimization of Distributed Generation Planning Using Impact Indices and Trade-off Technique

Abstract This article presents a multi-objective formulation for determining the best location and size of distributed generation. This multi-objective formulation includes reliability of service, system operational efficiency, cost of purchased energy, power quality, and system security as objective functions that are the primary concern of system planners. These objectives contradict each other and have trade-off relations. Conventional approaches for optimizing a single objective yield an uncompromised solution for such multi-objective problems. The multi-objective formulation is solved using an interactive trade-off algorithm to obtain compromised or most satisfactory non-inferior solutions. The system planner has a choice to include his/her preference on each objective through interactive steps. The practical situations, such as voltage rise phenomenon and voltage dependency of loads, are addressed, incorporating certain voltage constraints and appropriate load models. The test system is an existing Indian rural distribution network.