Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Ensuring the resilience and efficiency of modern distribution networks is increasingly critical in the presence of distributed energy resources (DERs). This study presents a multi-objective optimization framework based on a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to improve voltage profiles, minimize active power losses, and enhance resilience in a radial distribution network. A simplified 6-bus radial test system with DERs at buses 2, 3, and 4 is considered as a proof-of-concept case study. The GA optimizes control variables, including DER setpoints and network reconfiguration, under operational and thermal constraints. The optimization employs a weighted objective function combining voltage profile improvement, loss minimization, and a resilience penalty term that accounts for bus voltage collapse and branch overloads during DER contingencies. Simulation results demonstrate that the GA significantly improves network performance: the minimum bus voltage rises from 0.92 pu to 0.97 pu, while the total real power losses decrease by 46% (from 55.3 kW to 29.7 kW). Moreover, in the event of a DER outage, the optimized configuration preserves 100% load delivery, compared to 89% in the base case. These findings confirm that GA is an effective and practical tool for enhancing distribution network operation and resilience under high DER penetration. Future work will extend the approach to larger IEEE benchmark systems and time-series scenarios.
Source: Electronics
Authors: Theodoros Ι. Maris, Christos Christodoulou, Valeri Mladenov
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4415868797