Stochastic Optimal Allocation of Capacitor Banks for System Loss Minimization

In this paper, the problem of power losses minimization is carried out with the aim of attaining minimum power losses in an electrical power system. The current industry practice is to locally install reactive power compensation systems. Using capacitor banks, it can help to maintain bus voltages and power factors as well as reduce the power cable losses. As a result, this action will help to meet any future load increase. Currently, because of huge uncertainties affecting some relevant input variables, expansion plans frequently are subject to continuous reviews and modifications. In addition, probabilistic analysis, specifically with the application of the Monte Carlo method, is exploited for assessing the attributes of different solutions (capacitor banks). Finally, exhaustive numerical results on a real sub-transmission system demonstrate that the proposed formulation and approach are effective obtaining positive simulation results. Comparisons of different control techniques are shown, and conclusions are derived.