The radial distribution networks are designed for unidirectional power flows and are passive in nature. However, with the penetration of Distributed Generation (DG), the power flow becomes bidirectional and the network becomes active. The integration of DGs into distribution network creates many issues with: system stability, protection coordination, power quality, islanding, proper placement and sizing etc. Among these issues, the two most significant are optimal sizing and placement of DGs and their protection coordination in utility network. The proper coordination of relays with high penetration of DGs placed at optimal location increases the availability and reliability of the network during abnormal operating conditions. This research addresses most of the available methods for efficient sizing and placement of DGs in distribution system (numerical, analytical and heuristic) as well as the developed protection coordination techniques for utility networks in the presence of DGs (Artificial Intelligence (AI), adaptive and non-adaptive, multi-agent, hybrid). This paper indicates the possible research gaps and highlights the applications possibilities and methods’ limitations in the area of DGs.

In the modern era of high-tech machines and advanced technologies, Pakistan yet fails to mitigate its daunting energy crisis and power shortage of $2765~MW$ presently, which eventually affects the economy and well-being of the nation. This article highlights and discusses the key issues in the energy sector of Pakistan and how they give rise to the load shedding, tariff rates and environmental damage subsequently. Unfortunately, the country has the highest power production share of 63.9% from thermal power plants and least of about $5-6\%$ from renewable sources. In contrast to renewable sources, the thermal power generation being exhaustible has many drawbacks such as rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserves, inevitable varying costs, shorter life expectancy and most notably the undesirable environmental impacts. In addition to all this, the transmission and distribution networks need to be upgraded to uplift the current carrying capacity of utility network otherwise may lead to the aging of system equipment, overloading of power and distribution transformers, increasing of power losses and many other factors contributing to the energy and economic concerns in the country. In the view of strategic analysis and detailed study made on the energy sector statistics, it is evident that Pakistan has promising potential of renewable energy resources especially solar, wind, and hydel to overcome the energy, economic and ecological problems in the country particularly and the region as a whole.

With the rising load demand and power losses, the equipment in the utility network often operates close to its marginal limits, creating a dire need for the installation of new Distributed Generators (DGs). Their proper placement is one of the prerequisites for fully achieving the benefits; otherwise, this may result in the worsening of their performance. This could even lead to further deterioration if an effective Energy Management System (EMS) is not installed. Firstly, addressing these issues, this research exploits a Genetic Algorithm (GA) for the proper placement of new DGs in a distribution system. This approach is based on the system losses, voltage profiles, and phase angle jump variations. Secondly, the energy management models are designed using a fuzzy inference system. The models are then analyzed under heavy loading and fault conditions. This research is conducted on a six bus radial test system in a simulated environment together with a real-time Power Hardware-In-the-Loop (PHIL) setup. It is concluded that the optimal placement of a 3.33 MVA synchronous DG is near the load center, and the robustness of the proposed EMS is proven by mitigating the distinct contingencies within the approximately 2.5 cycles of the operating period.