Optimised PIDN–FACTS Control for Frequency Stability in Multi-Area Systems with Fuel Cell Integration

Authors

  • Vivek Kaushal Lawyee Punjab Engineering College (Deemed To Be University), Chandigarh, India
  • Loveleen Kaur Taneja Punjab Engineering College (Deemed To Be University), Chandigarh, India
  • Ajay Kumar Punjab Engineering College (Deemed To Be University), Chandigarh, India
  • Shimi S. L. Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kannur, Kerala, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/spee1048-5236.4538

Keywords:

Fuel Cell, Flexible AC Transmission System, Grey Wolf Optimisation, Artificial Bee Colony, Differential Evolution, Integral of Time multiplied by Absolute Error

Abstract

The growing induction of renewable and cleaner energy sources has made present-day interconnected power grids more complex, where frequency stability and tie-line power control are significant issues. This work presents a realistic two-area interconnected system modelled in MATLAB/Simulink comprising gas, reheat-thermal, and hydro units, with nonlinear consideration and a modified Proportional-Integral-Derivative-Filter (PIDN) controller design. The impact of the inclusion of a Fuel Cell (FC) unit with the grid on frequency stability is analysed, and a coordinated control strategy with Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices is developed. Several FACTS devices, namely Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC), Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC), Interline Power Flow Controller (IPFC), and Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC), are designed and integrated with the grid to improve frequency stability. Three population-based optimisation algorithms, viz, Grey Wolf Optimisation (GWO), Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), and Differential Evolution (DE), are used for minimising the cost function, Integral of Time multiplied by Absolute Error (ITAE), for optimal tuning of PIDN and FACTS controllers. A comprehensive study is performed across four scenarios, including single-area and multi-area Step Load Perturbations (SLP). The control performance of each strategy is evaluated based on the obtained ITAE, settling times, peak overshoots, peak undershoots, and rise times. Results demonstrate that GWO outperforms ABC and DE by achieving better control dynamics. Moreover, inclusion of FC achieves a substantial reduction in ITAE compared to conventional approaches, with values as low as 0.002044. FACTS devices further enhance performance, with IPFC consistently achieving the best damping, lowering ITAE to nearly half of the baseline PIDN–GWO values in multi-area disturbances. Overall, the study establishes that coordinated deployment of optimised controllers, FACTS technologies, and cleaner energy sources can significantly strengthen frequency regulation.

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Author Biographies

Vivek Kaushal Lawyee, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed To Be University), Chandigarh, India

Vivek Kaushal Lawyee received the B.Tech. degree in Electrical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh, India, in 2022, and the M.Tech. degree in Electrical Engineering with specialisation in Power Systems from the same institute in 2024. He has been pursuing a PhD degree in Electrical Engineering at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, since 2024. His research focuses on power system stability and control of interconnected power systems under various disturbances. His areas of interest include load frequency control, integration of renewable energy sources into conventional power systems, application of optimisation and metaheuristic algorithms for controller tuning, and the use of FACTS devices for enhancing system stability and dynamic performance. His current research also involves the development and validation of advanced control strategies for modern power grids using simulation and real-time platforms.

Loveleen Kaur Taneja, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed To Be University), Chandigarh, India

Loveleen Kaur is currently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. She obtained a Bachelor & Master of Electrical Engineering degree from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh in 1986 &1990 respectively. Ph.D. from Punjab University, Chandigarh, in 2018 in the field of Power Systems. She joined as a teaching faculty member in Punjab Engineering College in 1992 and served this institute for more than 36 years. Research interests include power system transmission and distribution, application of power electronics to power systems, renewable energy resources and power system automation.

Ajay Kumar, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed To Be University), Chandigarh, India

Ajay Kumar (Member, IEEE) received the B.Tech. degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India, in 2012, and M.Tech. degree in power systems and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur, India, in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Since February 2023, he has been an Assistant Professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, India. Prior to joining PEC Chandigarh, he was an Assistant Professor with the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi, India for 1.5 years and Department of Electrical Engineering, NIT Hamirpur, Hamirpur, India, for six months. His research interests include distributed generation, integration of renewable energy sources, and power quality assessment and improvement. More specifically, his research spans theory and control structures of an electronically interfaced multifunctional photovoltaic (PV) system, with applications to science and technology. One line of his recent work emphasizes the theme of renewable energy integration (control structure development, hardware testing, and result analysis). In general, he spends his time developing new controllers for acquiring the efficient operation of the grid-integrated PV system.

Shimi S. L., Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kannur, Kerala, India

Shimi S. L. is currently working as a Professor in the Electrical Power System Department under the ECE faculty at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kannur. Before joining INA, she worked as an Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering Department, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh and as an Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering Department, NITTTR, Chandigarh, under the Ministry of Education, GoI since August 2011. She completed her postdoctoral research at LuleÃ¥ Technical University, SkellefteÃ¥, Sweden, from August 2019 to August 2021, in the area of Electromobility under the supervision of Prof. Math Bollen (IEEE Fellow). She has 22 years of experience, out of which 21 years are in teaching and research, and 1 year is in industry. She earned her PhD degree from PEC University of Technology, Chandigarh, Master of Power Electronics and Drives from the institute under Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from J.J. College of Engineering, Ammapettai, Tamil Nadu. She has been awarded one Indian patent, titled “Multilevel Inverter,” and a Design patent on a Crop health monitoring Device. Up till now, she has guided more than 100 students for a Master’s Degree and supervised 3 PhD students. She has more than 200 Research Articles to her credit in reputed journals. Her areas of specialisation are Power Electronics and drives, Electro-mobility, Power Quality, Advanced Control Theory, Soft Computing Techniques and their hardware implementation, etc. She has made technical visits in many countries such as Montreal, Canada; Texas, USA; Singapore; Cairns, Australia and Skelleftea, Sweden.

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Published

2026-07-22

How to Cite

Lawyee, V. K. ., Taneja, L. K. ., Kumar, A. ., & S. L., S. . (2026). Optimised PIDN–FACTS Control for Frequency Stability in Multi-Area Systems with Fuel Cell Integration. Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 45(03), 813–852. https://doi.org/10.13052/spee1048-5236.4538

Issue

2026: Vol 45 Iss 3

Section

Clean Energy Generation and Integration in Power Systems