Implementation and Analysis of Genetic Algorithms (GA) to the Optimal Power Flow (OPF) Problem

Recently, there is an increasing need for Optimal Power Flow (OPF) to solve problems of today’s deregulated power systems and the unsolved problems in the vertically integrated power systems. The most important aspects related to OPF are the solution methodologies, and the application areas. This work is an implementation and analysis of an optimization method based on Meta-Heuristics in the form of Genetic Algorithms (GA) for solving the OPF problem (GA-OPF) considering transformer tap, and shunt VAR compensation settings. The effects of the parameters of the presented GA on the performance the OPF problem solution is analyzed in details. Moreover, the GA-OPF solutions are compared to solution obtained from classical optimization techniques presented in MATPOWER program. The effectiveness of the presented GA-OPF technique is demonstrated on the IEEE 9-bus system and the IEEE 14-bus system.