International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education 43/2 Distributed generator placement to maximize the loadability of a distribution system

Abstract Recently, there has been a great interest in the integration of distributed generation units at the distribution level. This requires new analytical tools for understanding system performance. This paper presents a simple methodology for placing a distributed generator with a view to increasing the loadability of the distribution system. The effectiveness of the proposed placement technique is demonstrated in a test distribution system that consists of 30 nodes and 32 segments. Other technical benefits of the distributed generator at that location and other locations are also studied and compared. Keywords distributed generator; loading margin; loss reduction; voltage regulation; weakest bus The production of electrical energy is one of the vital components of power system operation. Often referred to as ‘generation’, it can come from various sources and a variety of technologies. Traditionally, electrical energy is produced from hydro, gas, diesel and nuclear power stations. In the past, due to economies of scale, power generating stations were often large with capacities in the range 150–1000MW. Clearly, this type of power station requires large facilities, including land and personnel needed to operate it, and incur