International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

Enhancing the Efficiency of a Microsystem Equipped with a Photovoltaic-Based Solar Plant and a Small-Scale Wind Turbine

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Department of Electrical Engineering, Ya. C., Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran
Abstract
With the increasing integration of renewable energy sources, enhancing microgrid efficiency has become a fundamental priority in power systems engineering. However, the stochastic and unpredictable nature of solar and wind energy presents significant challenges for energy management and system stability. In this research, a comprehensive intelligent energy management framework with demand-side flexibility is proposed to improve the efficiency of a hybrid microgrid equipped with photovoltaic systems and small-scale wind turbines. To this end, an integrated model of all microgrid components, including generation units, energy storage systems, and flexible loads such as electric vehicles, has been developed in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The main innovation of this research lies in the application of a novel geometric method for Maximum Power Point Tracking in solar cells and a robust nonlinear controller for power management of the grid-connected inverter. This approach enables the synchronization of variable load charging intervals with peak renewable energy generation periods. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly improves the technical and economic indices of the microgrid and increases the utilization factor of renewable sources. Furthermore, intelligent load management effectively reduces voltage fluctuations, improves power quality, and ensures system stability under various atmospheric conditions. The findings confirm the effectiveness of the proposed integrated framework in coordinating production and consumption, positioning it as a scalable infrastructure for future smart distribution networks.

Graphical Abstract

Enhancing the Efficiency of a Microsystem Equipped with a Photovoltaic-Based Solar Plant and a Small-Scale Wind Turbine

Highlights

· The proposed geometric MPPT method converges to the maximum power point in less than 0.1 milliseconds and is independent of electrical parameters or the solar cell model, enabling fast and accurate tracking without complex tuning.

· Compared to the Perturb and Observe (P&O) method, the geometric approach offers faster convergence speed with lower voltage and power ripple, and oscillation-free performance.

· A robust nonlinear controller based on input-output linearization was designed for the grid-connected inverter, successfully tracking active and reactive power references with high accuracy under both normal and unbalanced grid conditions.

· The presence of a common DC link enables continuous day and night operation and eliminates the need for a separate solar inverter, reducing overall system costs.

· The integrated intelligent energy management framework, combining renewable generation control with flexible load coordination (such as electric vehicles), significantly improves the technical and economic performance of the microgrid, positioning it as scalable infrastructure for future smart distribution networks.

Keywords

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 August 2026

  • Receive Date 15 May 2026
  • Revise Date 25 July 2026
  • Accept Date 27 August 2026