Advancements and Challenges in Microgrid Technology: A Comprehensive Review of Control Strategies, Emerging Technologies, and Future Directions

The concept of microgrids (MGs) as compact power systems, incorporating distributed energy resources, generating units, storage systems, and loads, is widely acknowledged in the research community. Globally, nations are adopting MGs to access clean, affordable, and reliable energy solutions. However, effective MG operation encounters several challenges: stability issues, power quality concerns, inadequate energy management, cybersecurity threats, regulatory complexities, economic barriers, market dynamics, and limited public acceptance. This paper presents a systematic literature review encompassing recent advancements in MG technology. It delves into MG architecture, diverse control objectives, associated methodologies, emerging control approaches, future challenges, and potential solutions. This review focuses on existing control methods, particularly those addressing frequency and voltage stability, energy management, threat mitigation and explores a spectrum of engineering and nonengineering challenges within MG systems, proposing viable solutions. This review paper also explores recent control strategies for frequency regulation in MG system, utilizing MATLAB simulations to demonstrate their effectiveness. Additionally, the paper examines the application of cutting-edge technologies like machine learning, blockchain, reinforcement learning, neural networks, edge computing, and the internet of things (IoT) to mitigate concerns in expanding MG systems. The paper concludes by summarizing key findings, outlining avenues for future research, and offering a comprehensive perspective on the current state and future directions of MG research.