Abstract
-In this article, a new nature-inspired metaheuristic technique called the differential search algorithm is proposed to solve the optimal power flow problem. The proposed differential search algorithm has been developed and tested under normal and contingency power system conditions. To show the effectiveness of the proposed method, it has been demonstrated on the standard IEEE 30-bus and IEEE 118-bus test systems with different objectives that reflect performance indices of the power system. Obtained results using the proposed technique indicate that the proposed differential search algorithm provides an effective, a robust, and a high-quality solution for the optimal power flow problem. The comparisons of the proposed differential search algorithm results with those reported in the literature reveal the potential and superiority of the proposed algorithm in terms of the optimal solution quality and robustness.