Determination of optimal PV locations and capacity in radial distribution system to reduce power losses

Photovoltaic (PV) penetration has increased significantly in the last decade. PV Penetration with optimal capacity and location can reduce feeder power losses. The aims are to investigate degradation characteristics of feeder power loss value due to PV penetration in some radial distribution system and to obtain the smallest losses based on its characteristics to determine optimal PV capacity and installation location on radial distribution system. The simulation used DIgSILENT Powerfactory 14.1 to obtain losses data of the feeder. PV penetration location is varied from the nearest substation to the farthest bus from substation. The losses characteristics as the shift of the installation location of the PV to the end of the feeder produces the second order polynomial graph (y = ax ² - bx + c, a> 0) and the function graph of x with the negative (y = ax ^-c ). This characteristic is used in calculation with C programming to determine the optimal location and capacity of PV, where the result of determining the optimum point is in accordance with the result of simulation, but it has different value of feeder power loss of 11.18 %. By simulation, optimal PV location with range 42.1% - 89.47% or average 67.25% feeder length from substation with 80% - 90% penetration.