TITLE:
Improving the Reliability of a Looped Conventional Distribution Network through Optimized Geographic Placement of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation
AUTHORS:
Moussa Ahmat, Jean Benjamin Bidias, Yacoub Nassian Nimir, Kaoga Dieudonne Kidmo, Amir Moungache
KEYWORDS:
Power Distribution, Conventional Grid, Hybrid Grid, Photovoltaic Generation, Site Location Optimization, Reliability Indices, Improved Particle Swarm Optimization
JOURNAL NAME:
Smart Grid and Renewable Energy,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
24,
2026
ABSTRACT: Amidst the continuous growth in demand for electrical energy and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, integrating renewable energy sources into electrical distribution networks offers a viable solution for enhancing the technical, economic, and environmental performance of power systems. This article investigates the impact of high-penetration distributed photovoltaic (PV) generation on the reliability of a conventional looped distribution network. The study focuses specifically on optimizing the geographical coordinates of PV installation sites to improve network reliability indices. The primary objective is to assess how optimizing the geographical coordinates of PV sites affects the reliability of the host distribution network. To achieve this, an Improved Particle Swarm Optimization (IPSO) algorithm is employed. The results demonstrate significant gains in reliability indices, showing reductions of 30.80% for SAIFI, 19.03% for CAIDI, 17.03% for EENS, 17.20% for ECOST, and 17.02% for AENS. These results demonstrate that the optimal integration of distributed photovoltaic generation contributes not only to improving the reliability of the electricity grid but also to reducing the operating costs and environmental impact of the power system.