Enhancement of technical, economic & environmental benefits in multi-point PV & wind-based DG integrated radial distribution network using Aquila optimizer

Due to a larger R/X ratio, active power losses are higher in distribution networks (DNs) than in transmission networks. Due to the ever-increasing load demand, fossil fuel-based natural resources are becoming depleted, which is of great concern to network operators. Therefore, renewable energy sources (RES) are an effective solution to the growing energy issue and environmental pollution. The intermittent natures of PV and wind are characterized using probability density functions (PDFs). This study compares how well a radial distribution network performs when maximizing a constrained multi-objective function comprising voltage profile, economy, and emission benefit indices by optimal sizing and siting of distributed generators (DGs) using the Aquila optimizer (AO) algorithm. DGs based on photovoltaic / wind energy are injected at single, double, and triple points of standard IEEE 33, 69, 85, and 141 bus test systems. A statistical analysis of the results obtained by AO and some effective algorithms has been performed. The uniqueness of the work comes from the lack of prior literature reporting on simultaneous evaluations of technical, economic, and environmental consequences during optimal DG sizing and sitting. The maximum improvement ratios of the overall objective observed are 15.37, 15.69, 23.82, and 14.99 for the IEEE 33, 69, 85, and 141 bus DNs, respectively, concerning the base objective value. The active power losses corresponding to the best objective function of IEEE 33, 69, 85, and 141 bus DNs are reduced by 45.09 %, 43.24 %, 37.53 %, and 4.17 %, respectively.