Load variations impact on optimal DG placement problem concerning energy loss reduction

The Optimal Distributed Generation Placement problem (ODGP) towards energy loss minimization depends basically on the network's layout and its load composition. Under load variations, different load compositions result, for each one of them, is highly possible to come up with a different optimal solution regarding the optimal siting and sizing of DG units. This paper examines the impact of these variations in order to verify how optimal solution should adapt to any load composition. A Local Particle Swarm Optimization Variant algorithm is proposed as the solution algorithm and numerous load composition snapshots for the IEEE-33 bus system are examined. Moreover, a methodology is proposed in order to highlight the critical nodes that prove to have an essential role to the solution. Finally, the possibility for the determination of a fixed solution with fixed installation nodes and constant power output that could yield near optimal energy loss reduction is examined. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.