Maximum hosting capacity estimation for renewables in power grids considering energy storage and transmission lines expansion using hybrid sine cosine artificial rabbits algorithm

The broad spread of renewable energy sources (RESs) and storage systems increases modern power systems’ challenges and may conflict with system operation requirements. Determination of the maximum hosting capacity (HC) is crucial for utilities to estimate the maximum capacity of RESs and storage units that a network can accommodate efficiently. Several models were developed in the literature that lacks studying the impact of reliability requirements and the size of other network components on the HC levels. This paper proposes a framework to effectively maximize the hosting of RESs and storage systems in power systems. An AC optimal power flow is used to formulate the problem and consider the networks’ real operation. The objective function is formulated to expand transmission lines, allocate fault current limiters (FCLs), and ensure HC enhancement. The AC models are always complex and non-convex, and finding optimal solutions is critical. A hybrid artificial rabbits sine–cosine algorithm is developed to solve the problem, and its performance is compared to some well-known metaheuristics. The numerical studies on the Garver network and the IEE 24-bus system demonstrated that the size of different power technologies directly impacted the amount of RESs deployed. The penetration of RESs and storage systems was maximized by increasing the number of candidate circuits. The results revealed a 22 % increase in the size of RESs installed in the Garver network. Also, a 25.7 % increase in the size of RESs for the 24-bus system was obtained due to the increased candidate transmission lines. Further, an increase of 49 % was noticed in the size of storage systems built for the 24-bus system. The use of FCLs was necessary to maintain the short-circuit current below the required values. For both systems, the size of FCLs required was increased by 24.3 % and 28 %, respectively. The results also showed that the hybrid artificial rabbits sine–cosine optimizer was more efficient than other algorithms in solving the investigated problem.