Optimizing the Location and Capacity of DGs and SOPs in Distribution Networks using an Improved Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm

This study proposes an improved method of the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm for the distribution network in scenarios where distributed generation sources and Soft Open Points (SOPs) are connected to optimize power control. Improvement is achieved by integrating the ABC algorithm with the Grenade Explosion Method and Cauchy to accelerate the ABC algorithm's speed. The objective function is considered to reduce power losses over a day. The proposed method was tested on the IEEE-33 bus test system under various scenarios: Case 1 with 3 DGs installed, Case 2 with 3 DGs and 1 SOP simultaneously installed in the distribution network, and Case 3 having the same configuration as Case 2 but operating for 24 hours. In addition to reducing power losses, the voltage at the nodes in the distribution grid was also improved, maintained above 0.95 pu and close to 1 pu. Case 3 showed that integrating a Wind Turbine (WT), two Photovoltaic (PV) generators, and one SOP during operation resulted in the lowest energy losses, smaller than a system with only one WT and two PVs, and significantly lower than the baseline system without any DGs and SOPs. Therefore, employing SOPs in a distribution network with integrated DGs can offer significant benefits in reducing energy losses.