Optimal Electrical Distribution Systems Reinforcement Planning Using Gas Micro Turbines by Dynamic Ant Colony Search Algorithm

Distribution systems management is becoming an increasinglycomplicated issue due to the introduction of new energytrading strategies and new technologies. In this paper, an optimalreinforcement strategy to provide reliable and economic service tocustomers in a given time frame is investigated. In the new deregulatedenergy market and considering the incentives coming fromthe political and economical fields, it is reasonable to consider distributedgeneration (DG) as a viable option for systems reinforcement.In the paper, the DG technology is considered as a possiblesolution for distribution systems capacity problems, along severalyears. Therefore, compound solutions comprising the installationof both feeders and substations reinforcement and DG integrationat different times are considered in the formulation of a minimumcost distribution systems reinforcement strategy problem. An applicationon a medium size network, hypothesizing a scenario ofreinforcement also using as DG gas micro-turbines, is carried outusing a novel optimization technique allowing the identification ofoptimal paths in trees or graphs. The proposed technique is the DynamicAnt Colony Search algorithm.