Microgrid stability: A comprehensive review of challenges, trends, and emerging solutions
Nima Khosravi, Doğan Çelık, Hassan Bevrani, Salwa Echalih
Abstract
Microgrids (MGs) are increasingly vital in modern power systems, enabling localized energy management with high penetration of renewable energy sources (RESs) and distributed generation (DG). However, ensuring voltage and frequency stability in MGs remains a critical challenge due to the intermittent nature of RESs, fluctuating load demands, DG variability, and grid interaction disturbances. This comprehensive review systematically examines the causes of instability, advanced control strategies, and emerging trends in MG stability management. Key challenges, including RES intermittency, load variations, and fault-induced disruptions, are analyzed across operational modes (grid-connected and islanded), time scales (short- and long-term dynamics), and disturbance scales (small and large). The study evaluates control strategies for voltage stability such as reactive power management, generator control, load shedding, and distributed energy resource coordination and frequency stability, including classical PI/PID controllers, non-integer controllers, model-based, and model-free approaches. It also highlights the role of grid codes, such as IEEE 1547 and IEC 61850, in standardizing control and communication protocols to ensure seamless MG integration, power quality, and cybersecurity. A novel quaternary control layer is introduced, enhancing inter-MG coordination and predictive decision-making through artificial intelligence and machine learning. Additionally, the review explores how edge and quantum computing mitigate limitations in centralized, decentralized, and distributed control architectures, addressing issues like single points of failure and scalability. Current research trends, standardization efforts, policy considerations, and emerging technologies such as IoT, smart grids, and electric vehicles as dynamic storage units are discussed as future directions to enhance MG resilience and reliability. This review provides a solid framework for researchers and practitioners to advance MG stability and control solutions in the evolving energy landscape.