A ROBUST ELECTRIC VEHICLE-ASSISTED CONTROL STRATEGY FOR REACTIVE POWER OPTIMIZATION AND INTERLINKING CONVERTER CAPACITY REDUCTION IN HYBRID AC/DC MICROGRIDS

Abstract

Hybrid AC/DC microgrids have emerged as an effective solution for integrating renewable energy resources, energy storage systems, and electric vehicles (EVs) while improving overall energy efficiency and operational flexibility. However, conventional hybrid microgrids rely heavily on interlinking converters (ILCs) to exchange active and reactive power between AC and DC subgrids, resulting in increased converter capacity, higher investment cost, and additional power losses. Moreover, inadequate reactive power management can lead to voltage instability, poor power quality, and inefficient utilization of distributed energy resources. This paper presents an improved control strategy that utilizes the reactive power capability of electric vehicles to support the AC subgrid while simultaneously reducing the power handling requirement of the interlinking converter. The proposed strategy enables coordinated control of EV charging stations, renewable energy sources, and the interlinking converter to achieve optimal power sharing, enhanced voltage regulation, and improved system stability. By allowing EVs to actively participate in reactive power compensation, the required converter rating is significantly reduced without affecting system performance. Simulation results demonstrate improved voltage profiles, reduced converter loading, lower power losses, enhanced power quality, and better dynamic response under varying load and renewable generation conditions. The proposed approach provides an economical, reliable, and scalable solution for future smart hybrid AC/DC microgrids with high penetration of renewable energy and electric vehicles.