Abstract
Este artículo presenta un modelo de programación lineal entera mixta para resolver el problema de selección óptima del tamaño del conductor en sistemas de distribución radial considerando la integración de comunidades energéticas locales. La operación en estado estable del sistema de distribución basado en inyecciones de corriente se modela utilizando técnicas de linealización. La formulación propuesta considera la presencia de comunidades energéticas locales y restricciones operativas tales como límites de magnitud de voltaje y corriente. La formulación presentada se probó en un sistema de distribución utilizado en la literatura especializada. Los resultados muestran la eficiencia del método y demuestran que el modelo puede ser utilizado como solución del problema de selección óptima del tamaño del conductor.

Abstract
Due to the dynamic nature of modern distribution systems, the deployment of micro-phasor measurement units (uPMU) is becoming increasingly common among utilities to improve system monitoring and reliability. However, given their high investment costs, deploying a large number of these devices becomes unfeasible. Hence, unlike other approaches found in the literature that focus on observability criteria, this work presents an algorithm for optimal placement of uPMUs aimed at improving distribution system reliability. The algorithm defines the optimal number and location of the uPMUs through an objective function based on the resolution of a fault location technique that works in conjunction with pseudo-measurements to successfully locate a contingency. The meta-heuristics Genetic Algorithm and Reduced Variable Neighborhood Search are employed to address this problem. The proposed method has been validated on a three-phase 39-bus distribution system and a real distribution feeder with 962 buses from an Ecuadorian electric distribution utility. The results obtained confirm the effectiveness of the method, as with the deployment of only two uPMUs, the energy not supplied decreases by 13.84 % and 24.96 % for the 39-bus and 962-bus systems, respectively. Moreover, in the 962-bus system, the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) is reduced by 20.36 %.

Abstract
The number of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to increase in the automobile market, driven by public policies since they contribute to the global decarbonization of the transportation sector. Still, the main challenge to increasing EV adoption is charging infrastructure. Therefore, the site selection of public EV charging stations should be made very carefully to maximize EV usage and address the population’s range anxiety. Since electricity demand for charging EVs introduces new load shapes, the interrelationship between the location of charging stations and long-term electrical grid planning must be addressed. The selection of the most suitable site involves conflicting criteria, requiring the application of multi-criteria analysis. Thus, a geographic information system-based Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach is applied in this work to address the charging station site selection, where the demographic criteria and energy density are taken into account to formulate an EV increase model. Several methods, including Fuzzy TOPSIS, are applied to validate the selection of suitable sites. In this evaluation, the impact of the EV charging station on the substation capacity is assessed through a high EV penetration scenario. The proposed method is applied in Cuenca, Ecuador. Results show the effectiveness of MCDA in assessing the impact of charging stations on power distribution systems ensuring suitable system operation under substation capacity reserves.

Abstract
The government's endorsement of renewable energy objectives and the requirement to use carbon-free energy sources to keep up with the growth in energy consumption have expanded the integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in distribution networks. However, an excessive PV penetration may lead to operational threshold violations. PV system allocation that is optimal in terms of placement and sizing can enhance power quality and grid performance. We formulate the allocation of PV systems as a combinatorial mixed-integer nonlinear model to maximize the distribution network PV hosting capacity (PVHC). We chose three differential evolution (DE) mutation strategies, namely DE/rand/1/bin, DE/current.to.best/1/bin, and DE/rand/1/either.or, and the vortex search (VS) algorithm to solve that optimization problem. This study aims to identify the method that solves the PV allocation problem with higher quality. We performed manual parameter tuning to set both the population and iteration numbers for each algorithm. In addition, for the DE mutation strategies, we set the scale factor and crossover rate parameters. The results show that the VS provides the highest grid PVHC.

Abstract
In collaborative energy communities, optimizing energy costs is a critical aspect of sustainable management. This article explores the potential benefits of applying clustering algorithms to vary retail tariffs monthly, aiming to reduce energy bills for the community as a whole. The article compares a traditional approach of applying the same tariff to all community members throughout the year with a novel approach of dynamically changing tariffs based on monthly clustering results. A case study is conducted, wherein energy bill costs per month are analyzed under different tariff scenarios utilizing k -means clustering. Results indicate that the proposed approach yields promising reductions in energy costs, up to 8.76% (1170.18 EUR) improvement compared to the traditional method. The study contributes valuable insights into the practical application of clustering in energy community management and highlights the potential for significant cost savings through dynamic tariff adjustments.

Abstract
In recent years, the energy landscape has undergone significant transformations, characterized by the integration of renewable energy sources, smart grids, and the proliferation of IoT-enabled devices. As a result, the efficient management of energy resources has become paramount, requiring advanced methodologies in load forecasting and clustering. This article presents an enhanced methodology for short-term load forecasting that focuses on load consumption profile recognition within a smart building environment. The methodology is designed to analyze and identify recurring load consumption profiles and measures of sensors, thereby enhancing load consumption profile recognition capabilities within the smart building context. The interaction between single and grouped datasets is explored to enhance the accuracy and interpretability of predictions, contributing to optimized energy consumption and providing valuable information for demand response programs. The default forecasting methods used in the methodology are artificial neural networks and k-nearest neighbors. For comparing results and evaluating the proposed approach, XGBoost is also employed. The dataset is selected from a specific database, and the clustering method, partitioning type, is applied with k-means. The results, validated with error evaluation models and statistics, reveal the advantages of the proposed approach, especially with three clusters, where the results achieved by the Artificial Neural Network are the best. The clustering process, particularly the partitioning type, demonstrates a strong capability in improving load forecasting in smart buildings and helps understand load consumption patterns and achieve energy savings. Copyright (C) 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)