Optimal location of pilot buses by a Genetic Algorithm approach for a coordinated voltage control in distribution systems

Large scale integration of distributed generation in distribution networks causes voltage quality problems, but also may be able to provide means to solve theses problems if correctly controlled. A possible way to take advantage of distributed generation is to use it to perform a coordinated voltage control that would maintain voltage to its set-point value at the substation and some other specific nodes called pilot buses. This paper proposes a method for optimal location of these pilot buses in order to ensure the coordinated voltage control performances. For this purpose, we developed a hybrid software based on GAs (genetic algorithms). The proposed procedures are successfully tested on a typical distribution network with distributed generation units for several numbers of pilot buses.