Microgrid Control and Communication Strategies
Summary
Microgrids are self-contained energy systems integrating localised generation, storage and loads that can operate autonomously or in conjunction with the wider network. Effective control of these systems relies on a hierarchical structure in which primary control maintains instantaneous power balance, secondary control restores voltage and frequency to nominal values, and tertiary control manages economic dispatch and energy exchange with the main grid. Communication networks underpin these control layers, enabling real-time monitoring, coordination of distributed energy resources and adaptive response to disturbances. Strategies range from centralised schemes, offering global system awareness at the cost of increased communication requirements and vulnerability to single points of failure, through decentralised and distributed approaches, which enhance resilience and scalability but demand robust peer-to-peer protocols. Recent advances have focused on optimising the trade-off between control performance and communication overhead, exploiting low-bandwidth links, wireless technologies and standardised protocols to ensure fast, secure and interoperable operation. These developments are critical for facilitating higher penetrations of renewable energy, enhancing system resilience to faults or cyber disturbances and supporting the global transition to more flexible, low-carbon electricity networks.
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Microgrid Control and Communication Strategies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microgrid control and communication strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Microgrid: A localised grouping of distributed generation, storage and loads that can operate in grid-connected or islanded modes.
Distributed Energy Resource (DER): A small-scale power source such as solar, wind or battery storage, located close to the point of use.
Hierarchical control: A multilayered control architecture comprising primary (fast stabilisation), secondary (voltage/frequency restoration) and tertiary (economic dispatch, optimisation) levels.
Smart inverter: A power converter equipped with advanced controls and communication functions to support grid stability and enable plug-and-play integration of renewable resources.
Communication latency: The delay in data transmission across a network, which can affect synchronisation and control performance.
Interoperability: The ability of different systems and devices to exchange information and operate together effectively.
References
- Communication Requirements in Microgrids: A Practical Survey. IEEE Access (2020).
- Review on the Microgrid Concept, Structures, Components, Communication Systems, and Control Methods. Energies (2023).
- Communication Technologies for Interoperable Smart Microgrids in Urban Energy Community: A Broad Review of the State of the Art, Challenges, and Research Perspectives. Sensors (2022).
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