Strategic Placement of Wind Turbines in Smart Grids

Journal article, 2012

This paper is to propose an optimization method that searches for the optimal installed capacity of wind turbines (WTs) in smart grids from the perspectives of both WTs developers and distribution network operator (DNO). The proposed hybrid optimization method combines the genetic algorithm and the multi-period optimal power flow analysis. The objective of the optimization is to maximize the net present value of the profits obtained by the WTs developers as well as that of the savings obtained by the DNO from network loss reduction. A 69 bus 11 kV radial distribution network is used as a case study to demonstrate the proposed algorithm, with the implementation of different active management schemes. Simulation results show that the optimal WT capacity from the perspective of DNO differs from the optimal value deemed by the WT developers. The resulting economic benefits can be used by both DNO and WT developers to justify an increase in WT installation if desired. The two contrasting schemes see either the WTs developers or DNO benefiting at the expense of the other. As such, using tradeoff analysis it may be possible to find suitable compromises.