Surreal power grid with solar and fuzzy logic.

Power Up: How Fuzzy Logic and Solar Energy are Revolutionizing Clean Energy Solutions

Jordan Keane in Tech & Innovation September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how cutting-edge hybrid active filter technology enhances power quality and efficiency in solar-powered systems."

In today's world, where energy efficiency and sustainability are paramount, maintaining the quality of power is more critical than ever. Power quality, or PQ, refers to the consistency and reliability of electrical power, ensuring that devices and systems operate efficiently and without damage. Issues like voltage sags, swells, and harmonic distortions can wreak havoc on sensitive equipment, leading to costly downtime and reduced productivity for commercial and industrial clients.

Traditional methods of maintaining power quality often fall short, especially when dealing with the increasing complexity of modern electrical grids. The rise of nonlinear loads, such as those from switch-mode power supplies (SMPS) commonly found in electronic devices, introduces significant harmonic distortions into the power supply. These harmonics not only reduce the efficiency of the utility network but also pose a risk to the lifespan and performance of electrical infrastructure.

Enter the innovative solution of integrating fuzzy logic controllers with photovoltaic (PV) systems and hybrid active filters (HAF). This approach not only mitigates common power quality problems but also harnesses the power of renewable energy, creating a more sustainable and reliable power supply. By combining these technologies, engineers are paving the way for a new era of clean, efficient, and stable power solutions.

What is a Fuzzy-Controller-Designed-PV-Based Custom Power Device?

Surreal power grid with solar and fuzzy logic.

A Fuzzy-Controller-Designed-PV-Based Custom Power Device represents a sophisticated solution to power quality enhancement, integrating several key components to address voltage and current imperfections. At its core, the system combines a three-phase series hybrid active filter (SEHAF) with a photovoltaic (PV) system, enhanced by a DC-DC boost converter. This setup is engineered to minimize issues such as voltage sags, swells, and harmonic distortions, commonly caused by nonlinear power electronic loads.

The SEHAF includes a voltage source inverter (VSI) with a capacitor across it, ensuring consistent management and compensation of reactive power. This design effectively mitigates voltage fluctuations and harmonic disturbances. Furthermore, by integrating a PV system, the voltage across the DC-link capacitor of the VSI is carefully controlled, leading to improved compensation performance.

Reference current generation is achieved using a robust extended complex Kalman filter (RECKF) technique. The key benefits of this system include:

Sag and Swell Mitigation: Minimizes voltage fluctuations, protecting sensitive equipment.
Harmonic Reduction: Decreases distortions in voltage and current, improving power quality.
Reactive Power Compensation: Manages reactive power to enhance system efficiency.
Improved Voltage Control: Regulates voltage across the DC-link capacitor, boosting overall performance.

Simulations and real-time digital simulations using MATLAB/SIMULINK and OPAL-RT OP5142 confirm that the RECKF control scheme offers superior harmonic compensation compared to conventional proportional-integral (PI) and fuzzy logic controllers (FLC). This integrated approach ensures a more stable, reliable, and cleaner power supply, ideally suited for modern energy demands.

The Future of Power Quality: Cleaner, More Reliable Energy

The integration of fuzzy logic controllers and solar PV systems represents a significant step forward in addressing power quality issues. By effectively managing reactive power, reducing harmonics, and stabilizing voltage levels, these advanced systems promise a future of cleaner, more reliable energy. As research continues and technology evolves, we can expect even greater innovations in power quality solutions, ensuring a stable and efficient energy supply for all.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1109/tec.2018.2880593, Alternate LINK

Title: Fuzzy-Controller-Designed-Pv-Based Custom Power Device For Power Quality Enhancement

Subject: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Journal: IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion

Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Authors: Prakash K. Ray, Soumya Ranjan Das, Asit Mohanty

Published: 2019-03-01

Everything You Need To Know

What specific power quality problems does the Fuzzy-Controller-Designed-PV-Based Custom Power Device aim to solve?

The Fuzzy-Controller-Designed-PV-Based Custom Power Device is engineered to mitigate several key power quality issues. It primarily addresses voltage sags and swells, which can disrupt the operation of sensitive electronic equipment. Additionally, it aims to reduce harmonic distortions in voltage and current, which are often introduced by nonlinear loads like switch-mode power supplies (SMPS). The device also focuses on managing reactive power to enhance overall system efficiency and improve voltage control, specifically across the DC-link capacitor of the Voltage Source Inverter (VSI).

How does the integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and fuzzy logic controllers with hybrid active filters (HAF) improve power quality?

Integrating solar PV systems with fuzzy logic controllers and hybrid active filters (HAF) improves power quality by several mechanisms. The HAF, particularly the three-phase series hybrid active filter (SEHAF), actively mitigates voltage fluctuations and harmonic disturbances. The fuzzy logic controllers enhance the operational efficiency of the system by dynamically adjusting to various operating conditions, optimizing the performance of the SEHAF. Furthermore, the inclusion of a PV system allows for the control of the voltage across the DC-link capacitor of the Voltage Source Inverter (VSI), which improves compensation performance. This combination ensures a stable and reliable power supply, critical for modern energy demands.

What are the key components of a Fuzzy-Controller-Designed-PV-Based Custom Power Device, and how do they work together?

A Fuzzy-Controller-Designed-PV-Based Custom Power Device is composed of several critical components working synergistically. At its core is a three-phase series hybrid active filter (SEHAF), which includes a Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) and a capacitor, designed to manage reactive power and compensate for voltage fluctuations. A photovoltaic (PV) system is integrated to provide renewable energy and assist in controlling the DC-link capacitor voltage. A DC-DC boost converter is used to optimize the PV system's performance. The system employs an extended complex Kalman filter (RECKF) for reference current generation, which ensures effective harmonic compensation. The Fuzzy Logic Controller plays a role in the operational efficiency, improving the overall performance of the SEHAF and the entire system.

How does the extended complex Kalman filter (RECKF) contribute to the performance of the power quality enhancement system compared to traditional controllers?

The extended complex Kalman filter (RECKF) is crucial for reference current generation within the Fuzzy-Controller-Designed-PV-Based Custom Power Device. The RECKF offers superior harmonic compensation compared to conventional proportional-integral (PI) controllers and fuzzy logic controllers (FLC). By using the RECKF, the system can more accurately detect and compensate for harmonic distortions in the power supply, leading to cleaner and more stable power delivery. Simulations using MATLAB/SIMULINK and OPAL-RT OP5142 have confirmed the RECKF's effectiveness in improving power quality.

In practical terms, what are the benefits of using fuzzy logic controllers with solar PV systems and hybrid active filters in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability?

The use of fuzzy logic controllers with solar PV systems and hybrid active filters offers several practical benefits in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability. By effectively managing reactive power and reducing harmonic distortions, these systems improve the efficiency of the electrical grid, reducing energy losses. Moreover, the integration of solar PV systems provides a renewable energy source, decreasing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions. This combination creates a more sustainable power supply that is also cleaner and more reliable, aligning with the growing demand for environmentally friendly energy solutions. By improving power quality, these systems ensure that electrical equipment operates efficiently and with a longer lifespan, further contributing to energy savings and sustainability.