Analyzing Patterns of Consumption on Distributed Units Location and Costs in Electrical Systems

Abstract

The growing adoption of distributed generation (DG) has made it important to improve the performance of distribution networks. While numerous studies have focused on optimal DG siting and sizing for loss minimization, most approaches rely on peak load or static demand assumptions, overlooking the temporal variability of electricity consumption. However, load patterns directly influence power losses, energy procurement from the main grid, and the operational and investment costs associated with DG deployment. Ignoring these variations may lead to inaccurate cost estimation and suboptimal allocation decisions. This article investigates the impact of hourly certain and uncertain load profiles on the renewable DG allocation in radial systems through a mixed-integer conic linear programming (MICLP) model that minimizes the total annualized system cost, including energy loss costs, DG investment and operating costs, and energy purchase expenses. Four representative load profiles are incorporated into the optimization framework to evaluate their influence on DG placement decisions. The model is implemented in AMPL using CPLEX and validated on benchmark distribution systems ranging from 7 to 69 buses. Simulation results confirm that incorporating load variability and uncertainty significantly influences the DG placement and improves the accuracy of cost and loss evaluation compared with constant-load planning approaches. The findings demonstrate the importance of considering realistic consumption patterns in achieving more reliable and economically efficient DG allocation solutions.