Systematic sensitivity analysis regarding the influence of Distributed Generation units allocation to the optimal reconfiguration for loss reduction

This paper investigates the influence of Distributed Generation (DG) units to the optimal reconfiguration of Distribution Networks (DNs) for loss reduction. The concept relies on load variations caused by the local generation, which results in different load composition in the network compared to the no DG case. A comprehensive investigation of all possible combinations regarding potential DG connection nodes has been implemented in a 16 and a 33 bus system. Results indicate that a limited number of branches, usually adjacent to the DGs, participate in the optimal solution, regardless of the load composition. Moreover, a quantified correlation of the DN nodes that mostly affect the problem solution is presented, based on the participation frequency of the corresponding loads.