Optimal location and capacity of STATCOM for voltage stability enhancement using ACO plus GA

Voltage security is a crucial issue in power systems especially under heavily loaded condition. In the new scheme of restructuring, voltage stability problem becomes even more serious. To solve the problem, we integrate reactive power compensation concept by static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) with equivalent-current injection (ECI). We derive a new STATCOM with ECI model. This paper shows the application of ant colony optimization (ACO) plus genetic algorithms (GA) for optimal capacity and location of a new STATCOM with ECI model in a power system. Finally simulation shows the optimal location and capacity of new STATCOM with ECI model to enhance power system voltage stability by using GACO. The proposed method demonstrates the improvement of voltage stability margin.