A Multi Objective Genetic Algorithm for Weighted
Load Shedding
M. Tarafdar Hagh
Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty
University of Tabriz
Tabriz, Iran
tarafdar@tabrizu.ac.ir
S. Galvani
Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty
University of Tabriz
Tabriz, Iran
s-galvani@tabrizu.ac.ir
Abstract— Load shedding during contingency conditions is an
efficient solution to alleviate transmission lines over loadings.
Minimization of total load shedding considering loads importance
has great significance in these situations. This problem requires
simultaneous optimization of two or more conflicting objectives,
such as minimization of the total load shedding, minimization of
transmission lines over loadings and voltage violations
minimization. The objectives are in conflict since the
improvement of one of them leads to the deterioration of another.
A modified version of Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm
(NSGA-II) is used as an effective optimization tools for solving
the minimum weighted load shedding problem during
contingency conditions. Also relation between transmission lines
overloading and amount of load shedding is surveyed. IEEE 14
bus test system is used as a study case and results are discussed.
Keywords-: Contingency, energy not supplied, generation
rescheduling, load shedding, NSGA-II.
I. NOMENCLATURE
BUS
N number of buses,
G
N number of generators,
0
normal state indicator (superscript),
p
contingency state indicator (superscript),
i
bus index (subscript),
i
α importance factor of load in i
th
bus,
0
Di
P load active power demand in normal state,
p
Di
P load active power demand in contingency state,
0
Gi
P active power generation in normal state,
p
Gi
P active power generation in contingency state,
p
L
P active power losses in contingency state,
0
Di
Q load reactive power demand in normal state,
p
Di
Q load reactive power demand in contingency state,
0
Gi
Q reactive power generation in normal state,
p
Gi
Q reactive power generation in contingency state,
p
L
Q reactive power losses in contingency state,
min
Gi
P minimum active power generation,
max
Gi
P maximum active power generation,
min
Gi
Q minimum reactive power generation,
max
Gi
Q maximum reactive power generation,
min
Di
P minimum amount of load which must be supplied,
ij
S apparent power flow from bus i to j,
max
ij
S apparent power limit of line,
min
i
V voltage low limit,
i
V i
th
bus voltage,
max
i
V voltage up limit.
II. INTRODUCTION
The emergency states may occur in a power system as a
consequence of a sudden increase of system load, the
unexpected outage of a transmission line, a generator or failure
in any of the system components. This state may result in some
problems such as lines overloading, under frequency, voltage
collapse and angle instability [1].
Generation rescheduling and/or load shedding can be used
to overcome the mentioned problems, effectively. Load
shedding schemes have become quite important in present day
systems, where there is a lack of adequate spinning reserve
margin or a shortage of tie line capacity to make up the lost
generation [2]. Optimal load shedding has been taken into
consideration from various aspects and by means of various
techniques in many papers.
It is a common practice for utility companies to perform
load shedding by using under frequency relays to disconnect
the predetermined load when the frequency drops below set
values [3]. A load shedding method which considers the
frequency decay rate is also applied for utilities in [4].
Proceedings of ICEE 2010, May 11-13, 2010
978-1-4244-6760-0/10/$26.00 ©2010 IEEE