Distributed generation (DG) is electricity generation by small generating units, which are interconnected at distribution level with capacity less than 50 MW. Environmental concerns and the idea of using cheap and domestic renewable resources increased the popularity of DG following the developments in equipment technology. In Turkey, interconnection of DG is realized through the distribution busbars of 154/36 kV substation. The interconnection of DG at 36 kV feeders is not allowed by distribution system authority. This thesis proposes an interconnection rule which includes technical analyses to be conducted before the permission of interconnection of DG at 36 kV feeders. Moreover, the protection functions and operational requirements needed for the proper and safe operation of distribution system in presence of DG are introduced. A sample distribution system with relevant parameters is used for the simulation studies in Digsilent software. In order to determine the operational reserve requirement against the variations in wind generation, a statistical method including Weibull distribution, standard deviation and monthly average wind speeds is used. Convenience of hydropower plants&rsquo / response for being backup generation against the fluctuations in wind generation is analyzed by a mid-term dynamic model of the power system. A secondary control mechanism for the integration of wind power is suggested. Finally, an economic comparison between the interconnection alternatives of hydropower and photovoltaic power plants at the distribution busbar of the 154/36 kV substation and the 36 kV feeder is done by present worth analysis using the up to date power plant costs and incentives.

The decision-making process in highway construction projects identifies and selects the optimal alternative based on the user requirements and evaluation criteria. The current practice of the decision-making process does not consider all construction impacts in an integrated decision-making process. This dissertation developed a multi-criteria evaluation framework to support the decision-making process in highway construction projects. In addition to the construction cost and mobility impacts, reliability, safety, and emission impacts are assessed at different evaluation levels and used as inputs to the decision-making process. Two levels of analysis, referred to as the planning level and operation level, are proposed in this research to provide input to a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) process that considers user prioritization of the assessed criteria. The planning level analysis provides faster and less detailed assessments of the inputs to the MCDM utilizing analytical tools, mainly in a spreadsheet format. The second level of analysis produces more detailed inputs to the MCDM and utilizes a combination of mesoscopic simulation-based dynamic traffic assignment tool, and microscopic simulation tool, combined with other utilities. The outputs generated from the two levels of analysis are used as inputs to a decision-making process based on present worth analysis and the Fuzzy TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Situation) MCDM method and the results are compared.