Harris hawks optimization for the efficient reconfiguration of distribution networks

Improving the efficiency of distribution networks (DNs) is nowadays a challenging objective for modern power grids equipped with distributed generation and storage. In this context, the so-called network reconfiguration problem can be solved to obtain the optimal DN topology that minimizes the total power losses, while ensuring the voltage profile enhancement. The DN reconfiguration problem has NP-hard complexity; hence, finding near-optimal solutions in reasonable time is still an open research need. Facing this issue, this paper proposes a novel metaheuristic approach, where the recent Harris Hawks optimization algorithm is used to efficiently obtain near-optimal configurations. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through numerical experiments on the IEEE 85-bus system, comparing the achieved performance with the results obtained by other related techniques.