Abstract

This study is focused on developing an algorithm based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), aimed at optimally locating and sizing SVCs (Static Var Compensators) in power systems, considering uncertainties of the output power associated with photovoltaic and wind turbine based generators, with the objective of minimizing the system active power losses, while satisfying operating constraints. The intermittent behavior of the renewable energy sources is considered by using repre-sentative samples of the solar irradiance for the photovoltaic based generators, and the wind speed for the wind turbine based generators; afterwards, by means of appropriate models, the output power of these generators are computed. The proposed algorithm is implemented using Matpower® for the required power flow computaions for an IEEE 300-bus test system. The results showed that the proposed algorithm yields optimal solutions for the location and sizing of reactive pow-er compensators, reducing the total system power losses while the voltaje profiles are kept within adecuate levels inde-pendently of the associated output power variations of the intermittent energy sources.