Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic (PV) systems and permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSGs) in distribution networks has introduced significant power quality challenges. This paper proposes a novel approach for improving the power quality of a grid-connected hybrid renewable system by employing a Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) whose Proportional-Integral (PI) controller parameters are optimally tuned using the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA). Three distinct loading conditions — moderate load, heavy load surge, and light load — are considered to evaluate the system’s dynamic and steady-state performance. The optimized STATCOM effectively mitigates voltage dips, reduces power oscillations, and improves system transient response. Detailed time-domain simulations demonstrate that the proposed WOA-tuned STATCOM significantly enhances voltage stability, minimizes peak overshoot, improves settling time, and reduces harmonic distortions. Furthermore, the system performance under different loading scenarios confirms the superiority of the WOA-based optimization in stabilizing the hybrid renewable grid interface. The study also outlines directions for future expansion by considering nonlinear and unbalanced load impacts on system dynamics.
Author: Ankit Patel
Institution: Galgotias University
Language: English
Topic: Power Quality and Harmonics
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415207604