Optimal planning and partitioning of multiple distribution Micro-Grids based on reliability evaluation

Power system researcher have turned to Micro-Grids (MG) for higher reliability, greater flexibility, lower operating costs and losses, and lower CO2 emissions at the distribution system. This paper presents a single-level stochastic optimization framework for planning and partitioning of a distribution system including Multiple Micro-Grids (MMGs). The main objective is to minimize the total cost of the system including investment, operation, total losses and reliability costs of the distribution network. The proposed model takes into account the viewpoints of MG owners and distribution system operators, simultaneously. The voltage stability index is introduced to identify the optimal site of MG investment. To deal with uncertainties caused by renewable generations, the Firefly Algorithm (FA) and probability-tree method is used to create various operation scenarios of Photo-Voltaic (PVs) and Wind Turbines (WTs). This model is solved through the genetic algorithm in MATLAB, and to evaluate its effectiveness, numerical studies have been carried out on the experimental IEEE distribution network with four specified locations for investing MGs and seven Tie Switches (TS) for network partitioning. Simulation results reveal that optimal locations for MG investment are determined in such a way all MGs connect to the buses near the beginning of the feeder and as a result, load point reliability is improved, total active power losses are reduced, and the energy program becomes more optimized.