Congestion Management by Optimal Choice and Allocation of FACTS Controllers using Genetic Algorithm

Congestion management is one of the technical challenges in power system deregulation. This paper presents single objective optimization approach for optimal choice, location and size of Static Var Compensators (SVC) and Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC) in power system to improve branch loading (minimize congestion), improve voltage stability and reduce line losses. Though FACTS controllers offer many advantages, their installation cost is very high. Hence, Independent System Operator (ISO) has to locate them optimally to satisfy a desired objective. Genetic Algorithms (GA) are best suitable for solution of combinatorial optimization and multi-objective optimization problems. This paper presents optimal location of FACTS controllers considering Branch loading (BL), Voltage Stability (VS) and Loss Minimization (LM) as objectives at a time using GA. The developed algorithms are tested on IEEE 30 bus system. Various cases like i) uniform line loading ii) line outage iii) bilateral and multilateral transactions between source and sink nodes have been considered to create congestion in the system. The developed algorithm show effective locations for the cases considered for single objective optimization studies.