Abstract

The strategic placement and sizing of distributed generation (DG) units play a crucial role in enhancing distribution systems by minimizing real power losses and fulfilling both active and reactive power demands. When DG units are effectively integrated, a greater portion of the generated energy can be utilized by consumers, thereby enhancing reliability, voltage stability, and network efficiency. In this study, a genetic algorithm (GA) was employed to identify the optimal locations and sizes of DG units within a distribution system. Tests were conducted on the IEEE-33 bus radial distribution system and the 11 kV NTC feeder of the Nepal Electricity Authority in Itahari. Prior to the installation of the PV units, the 11 kV NTC feeder experienced active and reactive power losses of 477.965 kW and 396.643 kVAR, respectively, with a minimum voltage at bus 31 of 0.8293 PU. Following the installation of the three PV units, the real and reactive power losses were reduced by approximately 73\%, and the minimum voltage at bus 31 increased to 0.9466 PU. These findings demonstrate that the optimized setup significantly reduces the real power losses while maintaining a stable and improved voltage profile across the network.