Optimizing Operation Indices Considering Different Types of Distributed Generation in Microgrid Applications

Abstract

The need for independent power generation has increased in recent years, especially with the growing demand in microgrid systems. In a microgrid with several generations of different types and with all kinds of loads of variable nature, an optimal power balance in the system has to be achieved. This optimal objective, which results in minimal energy losses over a specific period of time, requires an optimal location and sizing of the distributed generations (DGs) in a microgrid. This paper proposes a new optimization method in which both optimal location of the DGs and their generation profile according to the load demand profile as well as the type of DG are determined during the life time of the DGs. The types of DGs that are considered in this paper are diesel generators and wind turbine. The method is based on simultaneously minimizing the cost of the investment and operation of the DGs, the cost of power delivered by the the external grid as well as the cost of power losses in the network. The proposed method is tested on the IEEE standard radial distribution network considering time-varying loads and the wind speed every hour of a day.

Keywords

• distributed generation (DG)
• wind turbine
• time-varying loads
• optimal placement
• load profile