Real-Time Validation of Hierarchical Control for Inverter-Based Resources in Islanded Microgrids Conference

Taha, RA, Aghmadi, A, Mohammed, OA. (2026). Real-Time Validation of Hierarchical Control for Inverter-Based Resources in Islanded Microgrids . IEEE SOUTHEASTCON 2015, 10.1109/SoutheastCon63549.2026.11476211

cited authors

  • Taha, RA; Aghmadi, A; Mohammed, OA

authors

abstract

  • The increasing penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) in modern power systems has introduced significant challenges related to voltage and frequency stability, particularly in low-inertia and islanded operation scenarios. This paper presents the design and real-time validation of a hierarchical control architecture for inverter-based resources implemented in an OPAL-RT real-time digital simulator. The proposed system consists of two inverter-based resources equipped with primary and secondary control layers. The primary control includes inner voltage and current control loops based on proportional-integral (PI) controllers to generate pulse-width modulation (PWM) signals for inverter switching, along with droop control to enable autonomous power sharing. A secondary control layer employing PI controllers is implemented to compensate for steady-state deviations in voltage magnitude and system frequency introduced by the droop mechanism. The complete control strategy is executed in real time within the OPAL-RT environment to capture system dynamics and control interactions accurately. Several operating scenarios are evaluated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control framework. Results confirm that the hierarchical control structure successfully restores voltage and frequency to their nominal values while maintaining stable and coordinated operation of the inverter-based resources, validating the suitability of the proposed approach for real-time applications.

publication date

  • January 1, 2026

published in