Impact of Strategic Deployment of CHP-Based DERs on Microgrid Reliability

Optimal deployment, with respect to locations, capacity sizes, and types of distributed energy resources (DERs), which are the main components in a microgrid system, are chosen for study in this paper. For the selection of optimal locations of DERs, the loss sensitivity index of each bus is taken into account. Whereas optimal size and its separation among microturbines, diesel generators and combustion turbines at each bus location are performed on the basis of the maximum benefit-to-cost ratio of the microgrid owner, obtained by using the particle swarm optimization technique and with respect to their reliable catering and quality of power as well as heat (i.e., combined-heat-and-power (CHP) operation) for customers. This paper conducts four separate case studies-two on 6-bus systems (radial and meshed) and resting on 14-bus systems (the IEEE system and radial system)-to show how much these systems are economically feasible for investment planning when cost and CHP benefits of various types of DERs are taken into account. Load profiles, tariffs, as well as the constructional cost of the microgrid itself are addressed in the six-bus meshed network and its central DER location in a district-heating paradigm is also done separately.