Minimization of joule losses in Smart Grid systems by the Metric - Topological - Evolutionary Optimization

The optimization of load flow for assigned constrains (i.e. assigned active and reactive power for load buses, adequate levels of voltage and so on) in terms of minimization of the joule losses is one of the fundamental tasks that the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) architecture has to solve in a Smart Grid (SG) system. In the present paper a recent modern heuristic called MeTEO (Metric - Topological - Evolutionary Optimization) is applied to this task for an assigned power to be delivered to loads. This heuristic is suitable to solve this complicated problem, thanks to its good exploration and convergence capabilities. In addition, its performances can be further improved also by using a parallel programming. The presented MeTEO approach has been validated by minimizing joule losses of a small 14 Bus Power System and a larger 118 Bus Power System, both related to the IEEE Common Data Format, and by comparing the obtained results with those returned by the MATPOWER simulator.