A systematic review of the various strategies for optimal energy management in hybrid AC/DC microgrids

Abstract Microgrids are small power systems with renewable sources such as solar, wind, etc, usually connected with power converters and often coupled with energy storage devices and loads. The renewable sources and the load of microgrids are stochastic and changing continuously, resulting in a need for an Energy Management System (EMS). This review aims to collate various strategies employed by researchers for the efficient management and operation of hybrid AC/DC microgrids. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines are used for this purpose. A keyword search resulted in 170 articles aligned with the theme of the review. After exclusion of some articles based on source type, document type, and number of citations, 62 articles were considered. Those articles were then screened and assessed on various metrics, and finally, 51 articles were shortlisted. These were then analysed, categorised, and evaluated with the purpose of creating a comparison and exhaustive summary of the articles. A comparison table was formed, and visualisation tools were employed to comprehensively understand the current state of literature on the energy optimisation of hybrid AC/DC microgrids. The hybrid AC/DC microgrid aims to be operated as efficiently as possible to minimise costs, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance reliability. The review confirms that the primary focus of researchers is on developing systems that can intelligently manage the uncertainties of renewable generation, load demand, and fluctuating energy prices using various techniques as presented in this article. With the above-mentioned strengths of the strategies used in the reviewed literature, the paper also comments on the implementation aspects of these strategies in the real-world scenario.