A recent research presents a smart inverter control method (ICANN) combining Artificial Neural Networks and inverter control to enhance power quality, stability, and efficiency in PV/Wind hybrid microgrids.
As the world races toward a cleaner energy future, engineers are asking: How do we make renewable energy not just clean, but also reliable and high-quality?
That’s the question a team of researchers from the University of KwaZulu-Natal tackled in their recent study. Their solution? Combine Artificial Intelligence (AI) with clever inverter control to create smarter microgrids that manage power like a pro. Let’s break it all down.
Microgrids are like mini power systems — they generate, store, and distribute energy independently or alongside the main grid. Perfect for remote areas or backup systems!
A PV/Wind hybrid microgrid blends:
This setup sounds great… but renewable energy isn’t always steady. Solar and wind can fluctuate, which messes with power quality — causing voltage swings, frequency drops, and other annoying issues for connected devices.
That’s where intelligent control systems step in.
To solve these problems, the researchers developed ICANN — a hybrid method that combines:
Think of ICANN as the autopilot for the microgrid, constantly adjusting based on real-time conditions.
Let’s simplify the tech magic:
ICANN monitors inputs like:
This regulates:
The ANN uses training data to predict the best control actions. It learns patterns, like:
The system can quickly respond to changes — switching between sources, regulating flow, and keeping everything balanced.
Yes — and here’s what the researchers found from their MATLAB/Simulink simulations:
Improved Voltage Stability: The output voltage stayed within 5% of the ideal range even with fluctuating conditions.
Reduced Harmonics: Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) was kept low — ensuring cleaner power.
Smooth Power Flow: ICANN balanced power between PV, wind, and battery storage efficiently.
Quick Recovery: After voltage dips or spikes, the system stabilized in under a second.
Better Load Handling: It dynamically adapted when energy demand changed.
In short: ICANN makes microgrids smarter, more stable, and more reliable — even in tricky weather conditions.
This is just the beginning. The researchers envision AI-powered microgrids playing a key role in:
Universal Clean Energy Access: Especially in rural areas where traditional grids can’t reach.
Lower Energy Costs: By reducing waste and improving efficiency.
Sustainability Goals: Helping achieve affordable and clean energy for all.
Disaster Resilience: Autonomous control systems can keep power flowing even when the main grid fails.
Energy Trading: In the future, homes and buildings could trade excess solar power using intelligent microgrids.
The ICANN method is more than just a clever acronym. It’s a blueprint for a future where AI helps manage the chaos of renewable energy, ensuring smooth, high-quality power even when the wind stops blowing or the sun hides behind clouds.
This study proves that by blending engineering expertise with machine learning, we can unlock a new era of smart, green, and resilient energy systems.
Microgrid - A microgrid is a small, local power network that can operate independently or alongside the main grid — like a self-sufficient energy island for your neighborhood! - More about this concept in the article "Charging Ahead | Smarter Storage Systems for Electric Trucks!".
Photovoltaic (PV) - PV stands for Photovoltaic, which is the fancy term for turning sunlight directly into electricity using solar panels. It’s clean, quiet, and powerful! - More about this concept in the article "Smart Homes, Smarter Grids | How Cloud Tech is Powering the Future of Residential Energy".
Wind Turbine - A wind turbine captures wind energy and spins it into electricity — like a giant fan in reverse! The faster the wind blows, the more power it produces. - More about this concept in the article "Powering the Future: Dynamic Response of Next-Gen Wind Turbines".
Battery Storage - Battery storage keeps extra electricity for later, so you can use solar or wind energy even when the sun’s not shining or the wind’s not blowing. - More about this concept in the article "The Future of Batteries? Ultrafast Aluminum-Chlorine Power is Here!".
Inverter - An inverter is a device that turns DC (direct current) electricity (from solar/wind) into AC (alternating current) electricity — the kind your appliances use. - More about this concept in the article "Battling the Invisible Enemy: Reinforcement Learning for Securing Smart Grids".
Artificial Neural Network (ANN) - An ANN is a type of artificial intelligence modeled after the human brain that learns from data and helps systems make smart decisions — kind of like giving your power grid a brain!
Inverter Control - This is the technique used to manage how inverters work — making sure voltage, frequency, and power flow stay balanced and stable.
Power Quality - Power quality means how "clean" and reliable your electricity is — free from spikes, drops, or distortions that can mess with devices.
Smart Grid - A smart grid is an electricity network enhanced with digital tech and automation — it “thinks” and responds to changes in real time. - More about this concept in the article "Smart Grids, Greener Earth | How AI Helps Small Power Grids Slash CO₂ Emissions (And Keep the Lights On!)".
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) - MPPT is a method used in solar/wind systems to squeeze out the most energy possible — like tuning your guitar just right for the best sound.
Zulu, M.L.T.; Sarma, R.; Tiako, R. Enhancing Power Quality in a PV/Wind Smart Grid with Artificial Intelligence Using Inverter Control and Artificial Neural Network Techniques. Electricity 2025, 6, 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/electricity6020035
From: University of KwaZulu-Natal.
