This paper presents the application of Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) devices based on heuristic algorithms in power systems. The work proposes the Autonomous Groups Particle Swarm Optimization (AGPSO) approach for the optimal placement and sizing of the Static Var Compensator (SVC) to minimize the total active power losses in transmission lines. A comparative study is conducted with other heuristic optimization algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Timevarying Acceleration Coefficients PSO (TACPSO), Improved PSO (IPSO), Modified PSO (MPSO), and Moth-Flam Optimization (MFO) algorithms to confirm the efficacy of the proposed algorithm. Computer simulations have been carried out on MATLAB with the MATPOWER additional package to evaluate the performance of the AGPSO algorithm on the IEEE 14 and 30 bus systems. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm offers the best performance among all algorithms with the lowest active power losses and the highest convergence rate.

Partial shading and mismatch between photovoltaic (PV) panels have significant negative effects on the power generated from PV array and total efficiency of the PV system. Both conditions cause a non-uniform aging of PV modules and may lead to hot spot phenomenon that destroys the PV panels. Under both conditions, the characteristics of the entire PV array are deformed and exhibit multiple peaks, including global and local maximum power points (MPPs) that need an intelligent MPP tracking algorithm to track the global MPP. This paper proposes a new photovoltaic current collector optimizer (CCO) to improve the power captured from PV array in case of partial shading or mismatch conditions. The PV modules are stacked by CCOs and then interfaced to the utility grid through an inverter, which introduces a new topology of centralized inverter technology. Simulation results show a remarkable increase in output generated power for the proposed centralized topology compared to conventional ones.