Distributed Generation Location and Capacity Effect
on Voltage Stability of Distribution Networks
Nasser G. A. Hemdan, and Michael Kurrat, Member, IEEE
Institute of High Voltage Technology and Electric Power Systems
Braunschweig University of Technology
Braunschweig, Germany
n.hemdan@tu-bs.de, m.kurrat@tu-bs.de
Abstract—Analysis of the effect of distributed generation (DG)
capacity and location on voltage stability enhancement of
distribution networks is presented in this paper. The analysis is
performed using a steady state voltage stability index which can
be evaluated at each node of the distribution system. Different
optimal capacities and locations are used to check this effect. The
location of DG has the main effect on the system voltage stability.
Voltage stability should be taken into account as one of the
objectives of DG optimal allocation techniques. The analysis is
conducted on a 69 node distribution system.
Keywords-Distributed Generation;Voltage Stability;Distribution
Networks
I. INTRODUCTION
The penetration of distributed generation (DG) resources
(wind turbines, photovoltaic, fuel-cells, biomass, micro
turbines, small hydroelectric plants, etc., ranging from sub-kW
to multi-MW sizes) in distribution grids is increasing
worldwide. The drive for cleaner energy sources, the economic
opportunities presented for investors in the deregulated electric
industry environment, and the potential benefits for utilities
(peak shaving, congestion alleviation, reduction of losses,
better asset utilization, etc.) are contributing to this trend [1,2]
Although there always exist important regulatory and
business issues concerning the integration of DG in the grids,
technical considerations are often viewed as a critical factor
affecting the development of new installations [1,3]. Due to the
locally available resources and the small scale, DG units are
mostly connected at the distribution level. When the
penetration of DG is high, the generated power of DG units not
only alters the power flow in the distribution system, but in the
transmission system as well. As a consequence, the connection
of distributed generation to the grid may influence the stability
of the power system, i.e. angle, frequency and voltage stability
[4]-[8]. It might also have an impact on the protection
selectivity, and the frequency and voltage control of the
system. Furthermore, the power generation from DG leads to a
reduction of power generation from central power units and the
number of online generators, influencing the so-called spinning
reserve. This results in a larger uncertainty in terms of power
system stability when a major disturbance occurs [8].
Distribution systems are traditionally passive and designed
to operate with such unidirectional energy flow, not as the
transmission system is designed for two-way power flow. In
planning and operating, it is assumed that electric power
always flows from the secondary winding of the transformers
in the substations to the end of feeders. With newly introduced
distributed generation, the distribution system becomes an
active system with both energy generation and consumption at
the formerly exclusive load nodes. Bidirectional power flows
should now incorporated in the hierarchical network design and
its operation criteria [9].
Voltage stability concerns stable load operation, and
acceptable voltage levels all over the system buses. Its
instability has been classified into steady state and transient
voltage instability, according to the time spectrum of the
occurrence of the phenomena. A power system is said to have
entered a state of voltage instability when a disturbance causes
a progressive and uncontrollable decline in voltage [10,11].
Voltage stability analysis often requires examination of lots of
system states and many contingency scenarios. For this reason
the approach based on steady state analysis is more feasible,
and it can also provide global insight of the voltage reactive
power problems [11]. The voltage stability phenomenon has
been well recognized in distribution systems. Radial
distribution systems having a high resistance to reactance ratio
causes a high power loss so that the radial distribution system
is one of the power systems, which may suffer from voltage
instability [10,12].
The effect of DG capacity and location on voltage stability
enhancement of radial distribution system is investigated in this
paper. The analysis process is performed using a steady state
voltage stability index presented by M. Charkravorty and et.al
in [13]. This index can be evaluated at each node of radial
distribution system. The optimal capacities and locations of DG
for a 69 node distribution system evaluated by G. P. Harrison
and et.al in [14] are used to perform the analysis.
II. VOLTAGE STABILITY INDEX
An index, which can be evaluated at all nodes in radial
distribution systems, was presented by M. Charkravorty and
et.al in [13]. The equations used to formulate this index are
presented in [15] to solve the load flow for radial distribution
systems. Equation (1) represents the voltage stability index.
 SI(m2) = V(m1) − 4.0{P(m2)x(jj) − Q(m2)r(jj)} III. OPTIMAL CAPACITY AND LOCATION
4 2

− 4.0{P(m2)r(jj) + Q(m2)x(jj)} V(m1)

2 P. Harrison and et.al presented in [14] a method combining
(1) optimal power flow and genetic algorithms to find the best
combination of sites within a distribution network for
connecting a predefined number of DG. The results of optimal
Where capacity and location of DG for a 69 node [16] distribution
NB is the total number of nodes. system are illustrated in Table I. The results are evaluated for
four cases of integration of 3, 5, 7 and 9 DG into the
SI(m2) = voltage stability index of node m2 (m2 = 2,3,…, distribution system. These results are obtained while assuming
NB) that all the generators operate at a power factor of 0.9.

jj is the branch number. IV. RESULTS AND DISSCUSSION

r(jj) = resistance of branch jj. The effect of DG capacity and location on voltage stability
enhancement of a 69 node distribution system is analysed. The
x(jj) = reactance of branch jj. single line diagram for this system is shown in Fig. (2). The
analysis is carried out by evaluating the value of the voltage
V(m1) = voltage of node m1. stability index SI. A load flow solution for the system using
Newton-Raphson load flow method is performed first. Then
V(m2) = voltage of node m2. the results of the load flow are used to evaluate the
transmission line losses and the powers P(m2) and Q(m2) at
P(m2) = total real power load fed through node m2. each node. Finally the SI index has been evaluated. This
process is repeated with the existence of 3 DG, 5 DG, 7 DG
Q(m2) = total reactive power load fed through node m2. and 9 DG at different locations of the distribution system
which represents the four cases respectively. The results will be
discussed for each feeder. That is because integration of DG at
Actually this index is derived for the two node equivalent
a certain feeder has no voltage stability effect on the other
system shown in Fig. (1). But it can be generalized by the same
method used in [15] where, feeders.

P(m2) = sum of the real power loads of all the nodes TABLE I. OPTIMUM CAPACITY AND LOCATION[14]
beyond node m2 plus the real power load of node m2 itself plus DG Capacity Added (MW)
the sum of the real power losses of all the branches beyond
feeder node 3DG 5DG 7DG 9DG
node m2.
(1st case) (2nd case) (3rd case) (4th case)
Q(m2) = sum of the reactive power loads of all the nodes 1st 8 1.769
beyond node m2 plus the reactive power load of node m2 itself feeder 9 1.672 1.648
plus of the reactive power losses of all the branches beyond
17 0.041 0.055
node m2.
18 2.634
19 2.885
nd 20 2.402
2
feeder 22 1.801
V(m1)∠δ(m1) V(m2)∠δ(m2) 26 0.101
m1 m2
I(jj) 28 0.103
r(jj) + jx(jj) 29 0.216 0.119
Sending end 38 0.424 1.823 1.867 1.884
Receiving end
3rd
40 0.059
P(m2) + jQ(m2) feeder
42 0.060
52 4.028
Figure 1. Simple two node system. 4th
55 1.001
feeder
64 0.862 1.725 1.155
Total 7.087 7.379 7.394 8.472
A. First Feeder
Fig. 3 shows the voltage stability of the 1st feeder for
different cases. It can be seen that there is no difference 1st Feeder
between the base case and the 1st case (3 DG) for the first 68 69
feeder. That is because there is no integration of DG in this
case. As the DG integrated in the 1st feeder the voltage stability
being enhanced and the voltage margins increase. Because of
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
approximately the same amount of DG power placed at node
no. 9 and node no. 8 (1.769, 1.672, and 1.648 MW
respectively) the voltage stability is enhanced by the same
level. 10 11 12 13 14 15

S/S1
B. Second Feeder
The results of the voltage stability enhancement of the 2nd 2nd Feeder
feeder are shown in Fig. 4. It can be illustrated that the total
DG power (MW) for the 1st, 2nd (5 DG) and 4th (9 DG) cases
are approximately the same (2.634, 2.926, and 2.725 MW 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
respectively). But it is clear that voltage stability is enhanced in
the 4th case better than the 1st .That is because the DG power is
distributed in the 4th case through the feeder at 4 locations 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
(nodes 20, 26, 28 and 29). Also when the 1st case compared
with the 3rd case (7 DG), it can be found that the voltage
stability is approximately enhanced by the same level while
there is a difference in DG power of 472 kW. This is also due 3rd Feeder
to distributing the DG through the feeder.
47 48 49 50
C. Third Feeder
Fig. 5 represents the results for the 3rd feeder. It can be seen
30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th cases are approximately the same
(1.823, 1.926, and 1.944 MW respectively). The reason for this
is that the large value of the DG power is placed at node no. 38
39 40 41 42 43
while very small capacities are placed at node no. 40 and node
no. 42 for the 3rd and 4th cases respectively. The 1st case is
different with the other cases because of the low DG power
S/S 2

44 45 46
located at the same node (node no. 38).

D. Fourth Feeder
4th Feeder
The enhancement of voltage stability of the 4th feeder for
different cases is shown in Fig. 6. It can be seen that the
voltage stability is enhanced at the 3rd and 4th cases better than 57 58 59 60
the 1st case. Although the DG power at the first case (4.028
MW) is approximately twice the DG power (2.156 MW) at the 63 64
51 52 53 54 55 56
4th case. That means more loads in this feeder can be added
with low DG power integration.
61 62 65 66 67

Figure 2. 69 node radial distribution system.

 1.6
1.6
Base Case 3 DG 5 DG 7 DG 9 DG
Base Case 3 DG 5 DG 7 DG 9 DG
1.5 1.5

1.4
1.4

V o lta g e S ta b ility In d e x
Voltage Stability Index

1.3
1.3
1.2

1.2
1.1

1.1 1

0.9
1
0.8
0.9
0.7

0.8
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 68 69 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67
Node Numbers Node Numbers

Figure 3. Voltage stability of the 1st feeder

Figure 6. Voltage stability of the 4th feeder.
1.6
Base Case 3 DG 5 DG 7 DG 9 DG
1.5 CONCLUSIONS
1.4 Voltage stability enhancement analysis of distribution
V o lta g e S ta b ility In d e x

networks with the integration of distributed generation is

1.3
presented in this paper. The following are the main
1.2 conclusions which can be drawn from the results of the
1.1
analysis:
• The location of the DG has a main effect on the voltage
1
stability over its capacity.
0.9 • Voltage stability should be taken into account as an
objective when dealing with optimum allocation of DG.
0.8
• Integration of DG at a certain feeder has no effect on the
0.7
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
other feeders.
Node Numbers • For the same feeder, distributing an amount of DG power
is better than placed it at a certain bus. This is an
Figure 4. Voltage stability of the 2nd feeder important conclusion because the locations of the DG
can’t be controlled and then this may be in some cases
1.6
Base Case 3DG 5 DG 7 DG 9 DG
helpful for voltage stability enhancement.
1.5 • For the whole system, distributing the same capacity of
DG at all feeders and different locations is better from
1.4
voltage stability point of view than concentrating the
same capacity at one or two feeders only.
Voltage Stability Index

1.3 Figure 5. Voltage stability of the 3r

1.2
• Different DG types have to be studied from this point of
view, especially those having fluctuating power (e.g. wind
1.1 power).
1

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0.8
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