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Optimal planning of renewable energy generator (REG) units helps to meet future power demand with improved flexibility. Hence, this paper proposes a grid-oriented genetic algorithm (GOGA) based on a hybrid combination of a genetic algorithm (GA) and a solution using analytical power flow equations for optimal sizing and placement of REG units in a power system network. The objective of the GOGA is system loss minimization and flexibility improvement. The objective function expresses the system losses as a function of the power generated by different generators, using the Kron equation. A flexibility index (FI) is proposed to evaluate the improvement in the flexibility, based on the voltage deviations and system losses. A power flow run is performed after placement of REGs at various buses of the test system, and system losses are computed, which are considered as chromosome fitness values. The GOGA searches for the lowest value of the fitness function by changing the location of REG units. Crossover, mutation, and replacement operators are used by the GOGA to generate new chromosomes until the optimal solution is obtained in terms of size and location of REGs. A study is performed on a part of the practical transmission network of Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd. (RVPN), India for the base year 2021 and the projected year 2031. Load forecasting for the 10-year time horizon is computed using a linear fit mathematical model. A cost–benefit analysis is performed, and it is established that the proposed GOGA provides a financially viable solution with improved flexibility. It is established that GOGA ensures high convergence speed and good solution accuracy. Further, the performance of the GOGA is superior compared to a conventional GA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Techno-economic, social, and environmental factors influence a large part of society, predominantly in developing countries. Due to energy poverty and bloating populations, developing countries like India are striving to meet the energy balance. One initiative of India to achieve the country's Renewable Energy Target (RET) is the setting up of the National Solar Mission (NSM) to meet a target of 175 GW (non-hydro) by the year 2022. Prioritizing Renewable Energy (RE) utilization to achieve techno-economic balance is India's primary objective and creating a positive environmental impact is a bonus. In this study, various scenarios are explored by investigating the techno-economic and environmental impact on RE adoption for a small community in India by optimally sizing the Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES). This study is an exemplar in understanding and exploring RE utilization, whilst examining the recent RE market in depth and exploring the advantages and disadvantages of the current RE situation by initiating it in a smaller community. Improved Hybrid Optimization using Genetic Algorithm (iHOGA) PRO+ software, (Version 2.4 -Pro+, Created by Dr Rodolfo Dufo López, University Zaragoza (Spain)) is used to size the RE systems. The results are categorized using triple bottom line analysis (TBL analysis) and for different scenarios, the techno-economic, environmental, and social merits are weighed upon. The probable hurdles that India has to surpass to achieve easy RE adoption are also discussed in this work. The influential merits for analyzing the TBL for a real-time scenario are Net Present Cost (NPC), Carbon-di-oxide (CO2) emissions, and job criteria. Compared to Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software, iHOGA remains less explored in the literature, specifically for the grid-connected systems. The current study provides a feasibility analysis of grid-connected RE systems for the desired location. iHOGA software simulated 15 sets of results for different values of loads considered and various acquisition costs of HRES. At least 70% of RE can be penetrated for the Aralvaimozhi community with the lowest value of NPC of the HRES. From the TBL analysis conducted, integrating HRES into a micro-grid for the community would result in mitigating CO2 emissions and provide job opportunities to the local community; although, the economic impact should be minimized if the acquisition costs of the HRES are reduced, as has been established through this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]