Improved Bald Eagle Search for Optimal Allocation of D-STATCOM in Modern Electrical Distribution Networks with Emerging Loads

Abstract

Currently, modern electrical distribution networks (EDNs) are experiencing high demand with emerging electric vehicle loads and are being planned for specific load requirements such as agricultural loads. In this connection, characterization and optimization of their performance become essential in planning studies. In this paper, optimal reactive power compensation using a distribution-static synchronous compensator (D-STATCOM) is proposed with the aim of loss reduction, voltage profile improvement and voltage stability enhancement different types of loads including agricultural and electric vehicle loads. A recent efficient meta-heuristic approach, improved bald eagle search (IBES), is implemented for solving the proposed optimization problem considering different operational and planning constraints. The simulation results are performed on IEEE 33-bus for different types of load modelling. The computational efficiency of IBES is compared with basic BES and other literature works. From the results, IBES has shown superior computational characteristics than all compared works. On the other hand, the optimal location and size of D-STATCOM caused significant loss reduction, voltage profile improvement and voltage stability enhancement for kinds of loads as experiencing in the modern EDNs.