Optimal distributed generation allocation in radial distribution systems considering customer-wise dedicated feeders and load patterns

Distribution system planners usually provide dedicated feeders to its different class of customers, each of whom has its own characteristic load pattern which varies hourly and seasonally. A more realistic modeling should be devised by considering the daily and seasonal variations in the aggregate load patterns of different class of customers. This paper addresses a new methodology to provide integrated solution for the optimal allocation of distributed generations and network reconfiguration considering load patterns of customers. The objectives considered are to maximize annual energy loss reduction and to maintain a better node voltage profile. Bat algorithm (BA) is a new bio-inspired search algorithm which has shown an advance capability to reach into the promising region, but its exploration is inadequate. The problem is solved by proposing the improved BA (IBA). The proposed method is investigated on the benchmark IEEE 33-bus test distribution system and the results are very promising.