Optimal power flow using tabu search algorithm

This paper presents an efficient and reliable tabu search (TS)-based approach to solve the optimal power flow (OPF) problem. The proposed approach employs TS algorithm for optimal settings of the control variables of the OPF problem. Incorporation of TS as a derivative-free optimization technique in solving OPF problem significantly reduces the computational burden. One of the main advantages of TS algorithm is its robustness to its own parameter settings as well as the initial solution. In addition, TS is characterized by its ability to avoid entrapment in local optimal solution and prevent cycling by using flexible memory of search history. The proposed approach has been examined on the standard IEEE 30-bus test system with different objectives and generator cost curves. The results are promising and show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach.