Differential evolution applied for anticipatory load shedding with voltage stability considerations

This paper presents an anticipatory load shedding methodology which determines optimum load shedding at selected buses under emergency based on voltage stability. Accurate load shedding saves loss of revenue to power utility in addition to avoiding voltage instability problem. The buses for load shedding have been selected based on the sensitivity of minimum eigenvalue of load flow Jacobian with respect to load shed. A computational algorithm for minimum load shedding has been developed using DE. The algorithm accounts inequality constraints not only in present operating condition but also for predicted next interval load. Developed algorithm has been implemented on IEEE 6-bus and 14-bus test systems. Results have been compared with those obtained using particle swarm optimization (PSO) and its variant based on statistical inference.

► A new search algorithm is proposed for anticipatory load shedding under emergency.
► The proposed algorithm is based on sensitivity and voltage stability.
► A computational algorithm for minimum load-shed is developed using DE.
► Inequality constraints are accounted not only in present operating condition but also for predicted next interval.
► The proposed algorithm is applied on IEEE 6–14-bus systems with promising results.