Optimization of PI Controller for a Photovoltaic Virtual Synchronous Generator System with Whale Optimization Algorithm
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24237/djes.2026.19204Keywords:
Photovoltaic (PV), Renewable Energy Sources (RES), Virtual Synchronous Generator (VSG) , Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) , Proportional-Integral (PI) controllersAbstract
Traditional power systems rely on large synchronous generators (SGs), where the mechanical rotor’s inertia naturally stabilizes grid frequency during demand fluctuations. However, the rapid growth of inverter-based renewable energy sources (RES) has transformed modern power systems. Because the inverter-based RES systems lacked the same inertia as normal SG during a disturbance, any sudden changes in frequency and voltage could occur at the point of common coupling (PCC) that reducing system stability. High-RES system penetration will lower system fluctuations and overall power system inertia. The frequency stability of a power grid that primarily uses RES is proposed to be improved by using virtual synchronous generators (VSG). To reduce DC-link voltage fluctuation and stabilize the power system's frequency, VSG with enhanced whale optimization algorithm (WOA) technique for optimizing the PI controller's settings are used in this work. The proposed enhanced WOA integrates chaotic initialization, nonlinear adaptive parameters, elite guidance, and dynamic probability adaptation to ensure faster convergence, prevent premature stagnation, and achieve robust optimization. The system was modeled and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink, where its performance was validated under a scenario of rapid load change. The simulation results demonstrate the benefits of PI tuning with the WOA in 40% reduction in settling time and 65% reduction in system frequency overshoot. Employing the enhanced WOA in the proposed VSG system leads to lower the error rates of the voltage regulator within (800 ±5)V and stabilize the frequency within (50±0.04)Hz of the VSG.
Downloads
References
[1] W. Sang, W. Guo, S. Dai, C. Tian, S. Yu, and Y. Teng, "Virtual synchronous generator, a comprehensive overview," Energies, vol. 15, no. 17, p. 6148, 2022. doi: 10.3390/en15176148.
[2] V. Thomas, S. Kumaravel, and S. Ashok, "Reduction of frequency oscillations in solar PV microgrid using virtual synchronous machine," in Proc. Int. Conf. Power Electron. Appl. Technol. Present Energy Scenario (PETPES), 2019, pp. 1–5. doi: 10.1109/PETPES47060.2019.9003957.
[3] U. Bose, S. K. Chattopadhyay, C. Chakraborty, and B. Pal, "A novel method of frequency regulation in microgrid," IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl., vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 111–121, 2019. doi: 10.1109/TIA.2018.2866321.
[4] A. Belila, Y. Amirat, M. Benbouzid, E. Berkouk, and G. Yao, "Virtual synchronous generators for voltage synchronization of a hybrid PV-diesel power system," Int. J. Electr. Power Energy Syst., vol. 117, May 2020, Art. no. 105707. doi: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2019.105707.
[5] M. M. Badreldien and B. K. Johnson, "Virtual synchronous generator controller for solar photovoltaic system," in Proc. IEEE Electr. Power Energy Conf. (EPEC), Oct. 2021, pp. 480–485. doi: 10.1109/EPEC52095.2021.9621570.
[6] H. Ur Rehman, X. Yan, M. A. Abdelbaky, M. Ullah Jan, and S. Iqbal, "An advanced virtual synchronous generator control technique for frequency regulation of grid-connected PV system," Int. J. Electr. Power Energy Syst., vol. 125, 2021, Art. no. 106440. doi: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2020.106440.
[7] T. Muthamizhan, M. J. Kumar, P. Rathnavel, M. Aijaz, and A. Sivakumar, "A photovoltaic fed high gain bidirectional DC/DC converter on EV charging stations applications," in Proc. 2nd Global Conf. Advancement Technol. (GCAT), Oct. 2021, pp. 1–6. doi: 10.1109/GCAT52182.2021.9587664.
[8] P. Bhuvela, H. Taghavi, and A. Nasiri, "Design methodology for a medium voltage single stage LLC resonant solar PV inverter," in Proc. 12th Int. Conf. Renewable Energy Res. Appl. (ICRERA), Aug. 2023, pp. 556–562. doi: 10.1109/ICRERA59003.2023.10269330.
[9] D. Borkowski, P. Oramus, and M. Brzezinka, "Battery energy storage system for grid-connected photovoltaic farm–Energy management strategy and sizing optimization algorithm," J. Energy Storage, vol. 72, 2023, Art. no. 108201. doi: 10.1016/j.est.2023.108201.
[10] C. Zhao, P. B. Andersen, C. Træholt, and S. Hashemi, "Grid-connected battery energy storage system: a review on application and integration," Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 182, 2023, Art. no. 113400. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2023.113400.
[11] M. L. Katche, A. B. Makokha, S. O. Zachary, and M. S. Adaramola, "A comprehensive review of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques used in solar PV systems," Energies, vol. 16, no. 5, p. 2206, 2023. doi: 10.3390/en16052206.
[12] B. Hamid, I. Hussain, S. J. Iqbal, B. Singh, S. Das, and N. Kumar, "Optimal MPPT and BES control for grid-tied DFIG-based wind energy conversion system," IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl., vol. 58, no. 6, pp. 7966–7977, 2022. doi: 10.1109/TIA.2022.3192689.
[13] S. M. Azizi, "Robust controller synthesis and analysis in inverter-dominant droop-controlled islanded microgrids," IEEE/CAA J. Autom. Sinica, vol. 8, no. 8, pp. 1401–1415, 2021. doi: 10.1109/JAS.2021.1004009.
[14] P. A. Gbadega and O. A. Balogun, "Active and reactive power droop controller design for reliable and optimal control of renewable-based micro-grid," Adv. Eng. Forum, vol. 41, pp. 111–136, Aug. 2021. doi: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AEF.41.111.
[15] M. C. Rais, F. Z. Dekhandji, A. Recioui, M. S. Rechid, and L. Djedi, "Comparative study of optimization techniques based pid tuning for automatic voltage regulator system," Eng. Proc., vol. 14, no. 1, p. 21, 2022. doi: 10.3390/engproc2022014021.
[16] Y. O. M. Sekyere, P. O. Ajiboye, F. B. Effah, and B. T. Opoku, "Optimizing PID control for automatic voltage regulators using ADIWACO PSO," Sci. Afr., vol. 27, 2025, Art. no. e02562. doi: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2024.e02562.
[17] W. J. Farmer and A. J. Rix, "Optimising power system frequency stability using virtual inertia from inverter‐based renewable energy generation," IET Renew. Power Gener., vol. 14, no. 15, pp. 2820–2829, 2020. doi: 10.1049/iet-rpg.2020.0351.
[18] B. Pournazarian, R. Sangrody, M. Saeedian, M. Lehtonen, and E. Pouresmaeil, "Simultaneous optimization of virtual synchronous generators (VSG) parameters in islanded microgrids supplying induction motors," IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 124972–124985, 2021. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3110668.
[19] R. F. Idan, A. J. Mahdi, and T. M. A. Wahhab, "Optimized proportional-integral controller for a photovoltaic-virtual synchronous generator system," Int. J. Power Electron. Drive Syst. (IJPEDS), vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 509–519, 2022. doi: 10.11591/ijpeds.v13.i1.pp509-519.
[20] C. Zhong, H. Li, Y. Zhou, Y. Lv, J. Chen, and Y. Li, "Virtual synchronous generator of PV generation without energy storage for frequency support in autonomous microgrid," Int. J. Electr. Power Energy Syst., vol. 134, 2022, Art. no. 107343. doi: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2021.107343.
[21] J. Zeng, X. Du, and Z. Yang, "A multiport bidirectional DC–DC converter for hybrid renewable energy system integration," IEEE Trans. Power Electron., vol. 36, no. 11, pp. 12281–12291, 2021. doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2021.3075471.
[22] X. Xiong, C. Wu, and F. Blaabjerg, "An improved synchronization stability method of virtual synchronous generators based on frequency feedforward on reactive power control loop," IEEE Trans. Power Electron., vol. 36, no. 8, pp. 9136–9148, 2021. doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2021.3052163.
[23] S. K. Behera, A. K. Panda, and N. V. Naik, "Adaptive active and reactive power control strategy for virtual synchronous generator," Int. J. Circ. Theor. Appl., vol. 52, no. 6, pp. 2635–2654, 2024. doi: 10.1002/cta.3875.
[24] J. Zhang, T. Zhang, G. Zhang, and M. Kong, "Parameter optimization of PID controller based on an enhanced whale optimization algorithm for AVR system," Oper. Res., vol. 23, no. 3, p. 44, 2023. doi: 10.1007/s12351-023-00781-x.
[25] X. Yang and J. Guan, "PI parameters tuning for frequency tracking control of wireless power transfer system based on improved whale optimization algorithm," IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 13055–13069, 2024. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3354781.
[26] B. Alsalibi, S. Mirjalili, L. Abualigah, R. I. Yahya, and A. H. Gandomi, "A comprehensive survey on the recent variants and applications of membrane-inspired evolutionary algorithms," Arch. Comput. Methods Eng., vol. 29, pp. 3801–3817, 2022. doi: 10.1007/s11831-022-09721-0.
[27] P. R. Hof and E. Van der Gucht, "Structure of the cerebral cortex of the humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae (Cetacea, Mysticeti, Balaenopteridae)," Anat. Rec., vol. 290, no. 1, pp. 1–31, 2007. doi: 10.1002/ar.20407.
[28] S. Mirjalili and A. Lewis, "The whale optimization algorithm," Adv. Eng. Softw., vol. 95, pp. 51–67, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.advengsoft.2016.01.008.
[29] D. Wiley, C. Ware, A. Bocconcelli, D. Cholewiak, A. Friedlaender, M. Thompson, and M. Weinrich, "Underwater components of humpback whale bubble-net feeding behaviour," Behaviour, vol. 148, no. 5-6, pp. 575–602, 2011. doi: 10.1163/000579511X570893.
[30] K. S. Simhadri and B. Mohanty, "Performance analysis of dual‐mode PI controller using quasi‐oppositional whale optimization algorithm for load frequency control," Int. Trans. Electr. Energy Syst., vol. 30, no. 1, 2020, Art. no. e12159. doi: 10.1002/2050-7038.12159.
[31] Y. Qun and H. Jie, "Application of WOA-RBF-PI controller in voltage control of SVC," in Proc. IEEE 6th Int. Electr. Energy Conf. (CIEEC), May 2023, pp. 644–649. doi: 10.1109/CIEEC58067.2023.10166259.
[32] L. Tan, M. Yi, L. Cai, H. Zhang, P. Hou, and J. Han, "Adaptive control strategies for improving frequency response parameters in VSG," IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 75649–75660, 2024. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3407835.
[33] M. Premkumar and R. Sumithira, "Humpback whale assisted hybrid maximum power point tracking algorithm for partially shaded solar photovoltaic systems," J. Power Electron., vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 1805–1818, 2018. doi: 10.6113/JPE.2018.18.6.1805.
[34] T. Liu, S. Liu, H. Yu, Z. Wu, J. Tong, and Q. Yuan, "Research on hybrid approach for maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic systems under various operating conditions," Electronics, vol. 13, no. 19, p. 3880, 2024. doi: 10.3390/electronics13193880.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mohanad Abd Shehab
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
