Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid Control and Management Systems

Hybrid AC/DC microgrids integrate alternating-current (AC) and direct-current (DC) sub-systems within a unified energy network, enabling efficient coupling of diverse generation sources, storage technologies and load types. Central to their operation are power electronic interlinking converters that regulate bidirectional energy flows between AC and DC domains. Control and management strategies typically adopt a hierarchical structure comprising primary, secondary and tertiary layers. At primary level, droop-based or virtual inertia controllers ensure local voltage and frequency stability under varying renewables output. Secondary control restores voltages and frequencies to nominal values and coordinates power sharing across sub-grids via limited communication links. Tertiary management oversees economic dispatch, load prioritisation and interactions with the main grid in both grid-connected and islanded modes. Advances in decentralised algorithms, real-time optimisation and adaptive control permit resilient operation despite intermittent renewable generation, fault conditions and demand uncertainties. Practical applications span remote communities, industrial parks and electric vehicle charging hubs, where improved power quality, reduced conversion losses and enhanced reliability deliver significant economic and environmental benefits. Emerging research addresses multi-time-scale coordination, cybersecurity resilience, intelligent energy management and seamless mode transitions, reinforcing the global significance of hybrid AC/DC microgrids in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon energy system.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid Control and Management Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in hybrid ac/dc microgrid control and management systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Interlinking converter: Bidirectional power-electronic interface regulating energy exchange between AC and DC sub-grids.

Droop control: Decentralised method emulating impedance-based load sharing to stabilise voltage and frequency without fast communication.

Islanded mode: Operation when the microgrid is disconnected from the main utility, requiring local control to maintain stability.

Grid-connected mode: Operation with an external grid link, enabling power import/export and tertiary-level economic dispatch.

Secondary control: Control layer restoring nominal voltage and frequency and coordinating power balance across the network via limited data exchange.

State-of-charge (SOC): Metric expressing the remaining capacity of an energy storage device, crucial for optimal dispatch and battery management.

References

1. A Comprehensive Review on Integration Challenges, Optimization Techniques and Control Strategies of Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid. Applied Sciences (2021).
2. Major Challenges towards Energy Management and Power Sharing in a Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid: A Review. Energies (2022).
3. Design of Decentralized Hybrid Microgrid Integrating Multiple Renewable Energy Sources with Power Quality Improvement. Sustainability (2022).
4. Improved Seamless Switching Control Strategy for AC/DC Hybrid Microgrid. IEEE Access (2021).