Optimization Techniques for Distribution Generation Allocation and Sizing – A Review

Optimization techniques (OPT) are important tools to improve electric power quality, dependability, power flow, and cost of power systems. Power systems are complex networks controlled by physical laws, subject to expected occurrences, with increased complexity due to distribution generation (DG) integration capacities from renewable energy sources (RES). RESs are also integrated with conventional DG to enhance the efficiency of DGs. Thus, OPT plays a vital role in modeling optimal system planning through which allocation and sizing factors can be easily carried out. Various OPTs via analytical, meta-heuristic, and hybrid are used in addressing challenges related to the positions and size of units for DG within distribution networks, accepting a range of objectives and constraints. These techniques have also been applied to simple and complex systems. Mostly multi-objective and hybrid OPTs are employed to resolve challenging issues in DG sizing and allocation and give efficient results. In the literature review, generally, researchers took the standardized models of IEEE bus systems used for testing various OPTs. Three DGs have very effectual outputs within the IEEE-33 bus system and seven DGs for the IEEE 69 and IEEE 118 bus gave efficient results. Therefore, this paper is an overview of recent work and a critical analysis of different OPTs, that have been used for optimal DG in power systems.