This study presents an integrated methodology to enhance voltage stability and operational security in the North West Ethiopian power grid by addressing system vulnerabilities and optimizing load-shedding strategies. A hybrid simulation-optimization framework is developed, combining DIgSILENT PowerFactory-based contingency analysis with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)-driven intelligent load shedding in MATLAB. The modeled power network comprises 2 generators, 15 buses, 15 transmission lines, and 3 external grids. Vulnerability assessment is conducted using Voltage and Overload Performance Indices (PIV and PIP) to rank critical elements under various contingencies. The analysis identifies the BDII-230 to GOII transmission line as the most vulnerable, where its outage causes voltage drops to 0.908 p.u. at Gondar and 0.923 p.u. at Metema, both falling below acceptable operational limits. Under increased load conditions (50% and 75% load factor), the Gondar bus experiences severe voltage deterioration, dropping to 0.8879 p.u., which significantly stresses system stability. Through PSO-based load shedding, the voltage at Gondar is restored to 0.9538 p.u., demonstrating a 7.4% improvement, while excessive real power (e.g., at BDII230) is reduced from 1.3235 to 0.8958 p.u. under 50% load increase, effectively stabilizing the system. The proposed PSO framework outperforms conventional load-shedding mechanisms by factoring in bus sensitivity and minimizing overall power shed while maximizing voltage recovery. The results provide actionable insights for grid operators and planners, establishing a reliable and scalable method for real-time contingency response in developing power networks.
| Published in | American Journal of Modern Energy (Volume 11, Issue 3) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ajme.20251103.11 |
| Page(s) | 41-58 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Contingency Analysis, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, Load Shedding, MATLAB Simulation, Particle Swarm Optimization, Power System Security, Voltage Stability, Vulnerability Assessment
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APA Style
Geremew, M. S., Workie, Y. G., Techane, L. B., Kamau, J. N., Bajaj, M. (2025). Voltage Stability Enhancement in North West Ethiopia’s Power Grid Using Contingency Analysis and PSO-Based Load Shedding. American Journal of Modern Energy, 11(3), 41-58. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajme.20251103.11
ACS Style
Geremew, M. S.; Workie, Y. G.; Techane, L. B.; Kamau, J. N.; Bajaj, M. Voltage Stability Enhancement in North West Ethiopia’s Power Grid Using Contingency Analysis and PSO-Based Load Shedding. Am. J. Mod. Energy 2025, 11(3), 41-58. doi: 10.11648/j.ajme.20251103.11
AMA Style
Geremew MS, Workie YG, Techane LB, Kamau JN, Bajaj M. Voltage Stability Enhancement in North West Ethiopia’s Power Grid Using Contingency Analysis and PSO-Based Load Shedding. Am J Mod Energy. 2025;11(3):41-58. doi: 10.11648/j.ajme.20251103.11
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Download@article{10.11648/j.ajme.20251103.11,
author = {Mebratu Sintie Geremew and Yalew Gebru Workie and Lidia Bitew Techane and Joseph Ngugi Kamau and Mohit Bajaj},
title = {Voltage Stability Enhancement in North West Ethiopia’s Power Grid Using Contingency Analysis and PSO-Based Load Shedding
},
journal = {American Journal of Modern Energy},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {41-58},
doi = {10.11648/j.ajme.20251103.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajme.20251103.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajme.20251103.11},
abstract = {This study presents an integrated methodology to enhance voltage stability and operational security in the North West Ethiopian power grid by addressing system vulnerabilities and optimizing load-shedding strategies. A hybrid simulation-optimization framework is developed, combining DIgSILENT PowerFactory-based contingency analysis with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)-driven intelligent load shedding in MATLAB. The modeled power network comprises 2 generators, 15 buses, 15 transmission lines, and 3 external grids. Vulnerability assessment is conducted using Voltage and Overload Performance Indices (PIV and PIP) to rank critical elements under various contingencies. The analysis identifies the BDII-230 to GOII transmission line as the most vulnerable, where its outage causes voltage drops to 0.908 p.u. at Gondar and 0.923 p.u. at Metema, both falling below acceptable operational limits. Under increased load conditions (50% and 75% load factor), the Gondar bus experiences severe voltage deterioration, dropping to 0.8879 p.u., which significantly stresses system stability. Through PSO-based load shedding, the voltage at Gondar is restored to 0.9538 p.u., demonstrating a 7.4% improvement, while excessive real power (e.g., at BDII230) is reduced from 1.3235 to 0.8958 p.u. under 50% load increase, effectively stabilizing the system. The proposed PSO framework outperforms conventional load-shedding mechanisms by factoring in bus sensitivity and minimizing overall power shed while maximizing voltage recovery. The results provide actionable insights for grid operators and planners, establishing a reliable and scalable method for real-time contingency response in developing power networks.
},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Voltage Stability Enhancement in North West Ethiopia’s Power Grid Using Contingency Analysis and PSO-Based Load Shedding AU - Mebratu Sintie Geremew AU - Yalew Gebru Workie AU - Lidia Bitew Techane AU - Joseph Ngugi Kamau AU - Mohit Bajaj Y1 - 2025/10/09 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajme.20251103.11 DO - 10.11648/j.ajme.20251103.11 T2 - American Journal of Modern Energy JF - American Journal of Modern Energy JO - American Journal of Modern Energy SP - 41 EP - 58 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-3797 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajme.20251103.11 AB - This study presents an integrated methodology to enhance voltage stability and operational security in the North West Ethiopian power grid by addressing system vulnerabilities and optimizing load-shedding strategies. A hybrid simulation-optimization framework is developed, combining DIgSILENT PowerFactory-based contingency analysis with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)-driven intelligent load shedding in MATLAB. The modeled power network comprises 2 generators, 15 buses, 15 transmission lines, and 3 external grids. Vulnerability assessment is conducted using Voltage and Overload Performance Indices (PIV and PIP) to rank critical elements under various contingencies. The analysis identifies the BDII-230 to GOII transmission line as the most vulnerable, where its outage causes voltage drops to 0.908 p.u. at Gondar and 0.923 p.u. at Metema, both falling below acceptable operational limits. Under increased load conditions (50% and 75% load factor), the Gondar bus experiences severe voltage deterioration, dropping to 0.8879 p.u., which significantly stresses system stability. Through PSO-based load shedding, the voltage at Gondar is restored to 0.9538 p.u., demonstrating a 7.4% improvement, while excessive real power (e.g., at BDII230) is reduced from 1.3235 to 0.8958 p.u. under 50% load increase, effectively stabilizing the system. The proposed PSO framework outperforms conventional load-shedding mechanisms by factoring in bus sensitivity and minimizing overall power shed while maximizing voltage recovery. The results provide actionable insights for grid operators and planners, establishing a reliable and scalable method for real-time contingency response in developing power networks. VL - 11 IS - 3 ER -
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Tepi, Ethiopia; Department of Energy, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Juja, Kenya
Faculty of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Department of Energy, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Juja, Kenya
Department of Electrical Engineering, Graphic Era (Deemed to Be University), Dehradun, India
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