Enhancing Transient Stability in Multimachine Power Systems Using PV-STATCOM with PSO-BFOA Optimization

– The integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems into multimachine power systems presents significant challenges to transient stability due to their intermittent nature and lack of inherent inertia. This study proposes the use of a PV-STATCOM system, combining PV generation with Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) functionality, to enhance stability in Kundur’s two-area multimachine power system. The PV-STATCOM controller parameters are optimized using a hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization with Bacterial Foraging Optimization Algorithm (PSO-BFOA). Simulations conducted in MATLAB/Simulink R2024b compare the system’s dynamic response under a three-phase line-to-line-to-ground (LLL-G) fault with and without PV-STATCOM. Results show that the PV-STATCOM system reduces settling time by 60% (from 4.5 s to 1.8 s), decreases overshoot by 54.8% (from 25.0% to 11.3%), increases damping ratio by 225% (from 0.200 to 0.650), and improves reactive power peak capability by 60% (from 50 MVar to 80 MVar). These findings highlight the efficacy of PV-STATCOM with PSO-BFOA optimization in enhancing transient stability, offering a viable solution for renewable-integrated power systems. Future research directions include exploring dynamic environmental conditions and experimental validation through hardware-in-the-loop testing.