Non-homogenous firefly algorithm for optimization: Application to an economic load dispatch problem

The firefly algorithm became a very studied and applied metaheuristic that showed good results. In this work, a new variant of the firefly algorithm, based in non-homogenous population, is developed. Our implementation of the firefly algorithm and of the proposed variant are then used to solve an 15 units economic load dispatch problem with proibited operating zones and ramp rate limits constraints. The non-homogenous firefly algorithm found better results than the original method in the particular economic load dispatch problem considered in this work.