<![CDATA[Optimal power flow (OPF) is a complex, non-linear optimization problem focused on determining the steady-state operating parameters of power systems for economic and secure operation. The challenge intensifies due to numerous system constraints that must be satisfied simultaneously. Although various evolutionary algorithms (EAs) have been applied to OPF in recent decades, these algorithms often use unconstrained search strategies. A common approach to handle constraint violations is the static penalty function, which penalizes infeasible solutions. However, selecting suitable penalty coefficients typically involves time-consuming trial and error, affecting overall performance. This study explores the integration of advanced constraint handling (CH) techniques within the differential evolution (DE) framework to enhance the performance of optimal power flow (OPF) solutions. In particular, it looks at three approaches: a hybrid ensemble of two CH techniques (ECHT), a self-adaptive penalty method (SP), and superiority of viable solutions (SF). The IEEE 30-bus and IEEE-57 bus benchmark systems are used to evaluate the efficacy of these techniques under a variety of OPF goals, including lowering emissions and generation costs, cutting power losses, and enhancing voltage stability. We took into consideration both weighted-sum multi-objective and single-objective formulations. The simulation outcomes indicate that the proposed CH-DE approaches deliver robust and competitive optimization results, demonstrating improved constraint handling capabilities when compared to contemporary methods in the literature.]]>
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