International Conference on Innovations in Power and Advanced Computing Technologies [i-PACT2017] 1 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM LOSS REDUCTION IN ADDISABABA NORTH SUB STATION Solomon Mamo Banteywalu Lecturer, School of Elect. & Comp. Engg. Institute of Tech. Hawassa University Hawassa, Ethiopia solupa2000@yahoo.com Renald C Associate Professor,Dept. of Elect. & Comp. Engg. KIOT, Wollo University Kombolcha , Ethiopia renaldelectrical@gmail.com Soosai Mary Raja Slochanal Associate Professor, School of Elect. & Comp. Engg. Institute of Tech. Hawassa University Hawassa, Ethiopia elecsmr@gmail.com Abstract— In this paper a combination of network reconfiguration and capacitor placement for power loss reduction in Addis north distribution substation was discussed. Data was collected and loss related issues of the substation were analyzed. For evaluation the system was modeled using, power simulation software. Average annual technical energy losses for distribution lines were determined from the present model. Technical energy loss reduction techniques, which have maximum loss reduction for the distribution system, were searched from the available techniques for distribution system. Model of the reconfigured power distribution system of the area was simulated and technical energy loss was estimated. Moreover the result of the present model and reconfigured model was compared. Model for optimal capacitor placement of the power distribution system was simulated and in addition the results of costs before optimization and after optimization were compared to check the saved costs together with the saved energy loss. Model of the combination of reconfiguration and optimal placement of capacitor for power distribution system of the area was simulated and technical energy loss was estimated. The result of the present model, reconfigured model, capacitor placement model and combination of reconfiguration and optimal capacitor placement model was compared and discussed. Average annual technical energy loss for distribution lines was determined for the combination of reconfigured and capacitor placement model. Keywords—distribution system; feeder reconfiguration; optimal capacitor placement; switching optimization; power loss minimization; I. INTRODUCTION In olden days human tasks were performed by man himself and few machines were available for support. The advancement in science and technology, resulting in development of numerous machines easing out every human task. All automated machines need electricity as a source. Therefore electricity is an absolute necessity today. Ethiopia is presently expanding its power system generation capacity to meet growing demand and have a plan of exporting power to neighbouring countries. The generation expansion plan and progress in Ethiopia [1] indicates that the power system generation capacity is supposed to grow from 2000 to 10,000MW. In compliance with prescribed reliability and system reserve criteria, an updated schedule for implementation of new generating plans and transmission addition is designed to meet the projected demand, to be a centre of excellence in providing quality electric service at every one’s door and being competitive industry. The generation development plan consists mainly of hydro projects. Generation from wind and geothermal power plants are foreseen to compliment the hydro. Improvement in electric utility industry inquires about the reliability and the efficiency of the power system which should deliver the power at minimum cost. The reliability of the distribution system had in the past not been of great importance as an outage there affects a small area. An outage in the transmission or generation system would affect large number of customers. However, studies have shown that a lot of outages on the customer sides are due to failure on the distribution system[2]. So care is given to the distribution system because of its high economic importance. This fact implies the importance of careful planning, design, construction and operation of the distribution system [3]. The loss reduction on distribution network is the main goal in efficient operation of the network. Due to low voltage level and in consequence high flowing current in the distribution system, the most power loss portion is related to the distribution section in comparison to the transmission and generation section. Hence, many alternatives have been done to decrease the losses in distribution networks. Reconfiguration network is an effective method to solve this problem as possible by finding the most efficient configuration, the one which reduces the real power loss of distribution systems. But the network reconfiguration alone can’t satisfy the aimed loss reduction. Therefore the reconfiguration has been employed and combined with other method, such as capacitor placement to reduce the power loss 978-1-5090-5682-8 /17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE