CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR POWER ELECTRONICS IN DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
Keywords:
Control strategies, power electronics, distributed renewable energy systems, advanced control algorithms, implementation challenges, AI and IoT, system stability, sustainability.Abstract
Background: The global integration of distributed renewable energy systems (DRES) is pivotal for achieving sustainability goals. However, the inherent intermittency and variability of sources like solar and wind challenge grid stability and efficiency. Power electronics, governed by sophisticated control strategies, are essential to mitigate these issues, yet their implementation faces significant barriers.
Objective: This study aims to investigate the awareness, application, and perceived effectiveness of control strategies in DRES. It further seeks to identify the critical challenges hindering their adoption and explore the future role of emerging technologies in this domain.
Methods: A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing a structured online survey disseminated to 300 professionals in the renewable energy sector, including engineers, researchers, and academics. Data was collected on demographics, awareness, practical application, implementation challenges, and future prospects, and analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Key Findings: The results indicate a high level of awareness (68.3% agreement) and strong consensus on the importance of control strategies for system stability and efficiency. Advanced algorithms (e.g., model predictive control) are viewed favorably over conventional methods. However, major implementation barriers were identified, including the high cost of advanced controllers (60% agreement), a lack of technical expertise (63% agreement), and regulatory challenges. Respondents expressed strong optimism (70% agreement) that emerging technologies like AI and IoT will transform future control strategies and accelerate the renewable energy transition.
Conclusion: While the critical role of advanced control strategies is widely recognized, their potential is currently constrained by economic, technical, and regulatory hurdles. To unlock this potential, concerted efforts in research & development, capacity-building programs, policy standardization, and robust academia-industry collaboration are urgently recommended.