Power distribution systems planning with distributed thermal and wind generation

This paper presents a new approach for distribution systems planning with thermal and wind distributed generation (DG). This approach determines the optimal placement of biomass-based thermal and wind distributed generation aiming at minimizing the energy loss, emissions and the total investment and operation costs, as well as improving the voltage regulation. The costs for the purchased energy from grid and thermal generation based on biomass resource are considered. The wind power is given by pre-established nominal power and capacity factor. To solve the mixed integer nonlinear problem, a genetic algorithm (GA) with embedded optimal power flow (OPF) tool is proposed. The OPF is used to determine the size of the thermal generators. Results are presented for well-known systems from literature.