Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

A Multi-agent Based Distributed Voltage Control Scheme Using Machine Learning and Smart Inverters

Received: 27 October 2025     Accepted: 5 November 2025     Published: 9 December 2025
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

A new distributed voltage control strategy for PV power systems that does not need support from centralized SVCs is proposed. The methodology uses smart inverters, agent-based coordination, and machine learning-based forecasting to offer a scalable and economical solution for decoupling voltage variations in the context of high penetration of PV. Each inverter acts as an autonomous agent that regulates its reactive power output using local voltage measurements and short-term irradiance predictions derived from a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model. The agents cooperate with their neighbors, utilizing a consensus algorithm for coordinated voltage control throughout the network. This decentralized strategy enables fast, adaptive, and cost-effective voltage stabilization without relying on hardware-intensive centralized devices. The effectiveness and reliability of the proposed control strategy are verified through a simulation study using a five-bus radial distributed generation (DG) system with high PV penetration. Simulation results on a five-bus radial distribution feeder show better voltage stability, fault recovery, and reactive power utilization as compared with conventional and existing distributed control strategies. The findings confirm the feasibility of software-defined, inverter-based voltage regulation as a practical alternative for future smart grids. In addition, the proposed framework offers extensibility to hybrid renewable energy systems, such as wind and storage, supporting the transition toward resilient, low-carbon, and data-driven energy infrastructures.

Published in International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering (Volume 14, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.12
Page(s) 122-141
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Decentralized Voltage Control, Smart Inverters, Multi-agent System, Voltage Fluctuation Compensation, PV Integration, Machine Learning Prediction

References
[1] S. Allahmoradi, S. Afrasiabi, X. Liang, J. Zhao, and M. Shahidehpour, “Data-Driven Volt/VAR Optimization for Modern Distribution Networks: A Review,” IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 71184–71204, 2024,
[2] Uchiyama N., Miyata H., Ito T., and Konishi H., “Reactive Power Control Method for Reducing Voltage Fluctuation in Large-scale Photovoltaic Systems,” IEEJ Trans. PE, vol. 130, no. 3, pp. 297–304, 2010,
[3] T. Van Dao, H. T. N. Nguyen, S. Chaitusaney, and R. Chatthaworn, “Local reactive power control of PV plants for voltage fluctuation mitigation,” in 2014 11th International Conference on Electrical Engineering/Electronics, Computer, Telecommunications and Information Technology (ECTI-CON), Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand: IEEE, May 2014, pp. 1–6.
[4] Md. S. Hossain, N. Abboodi Madlool, A. W. Al-Fatlawi, and M. El Haj Assad, “High Penetration of Solar Photovoltaic Structure on the Grid System Disruption: An Overview of Technology Advancement,” Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 2, p. 1174, Jan. 2023,
[5] A. Rahmouni, “Impact of static reactive power compensator (SVC) on the power grid,” WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRONICS, vol. 11, pp. 96–104, Jun. 2020,
[6] K. Shimomukai, H. Maeda, and G. Fujita, “Volt-Var Control for Utility-scale Solar PV Plants to Replace SVCs,” in 2023 4th International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Power Systems (ICHVEPS), Denpasar Bali, Indonesia: IEEE, Aug. 2023, pp. 176–181.
[7] H. Jafarizadeh, E. Yamini, S. M. Zolfaghari, F. Esmaeilion, M. E. H. Assad, and M. Soltani, “Navigating challenges in large-scale renewable energy storage: Barriers, solutions, and innovations,” Energy Reports, vol. 12, pp. 2179–2192, Dec. 2024,
[8] M. A. Alam, M. N. Sharker, M. B. A. Tamal, and M. I. Sazib, “Short-Term Solar Power Prediction using Machine Learning Algorithms: A High Performing approach,” GUB JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 82–95, Jul. 2024,
[9] L. Wang, F. Bai, R. Yan, and T. K. Saha, “Real-Time Coordinated Voltage Control of PV Inverters and Energy Storage for Weak Networks With High PV Penetration,” IEEE Trans. Power Syst., vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 3383–3395, May 2018,
[10] H. Akhavan-Hejazi and H. Mohsenian-Rad, “Power systems big data analytics: An assessment of paradigm shift barriers and prospects,” Energy Reports, vol. 4, pp. 91–100, Nov. 2018,
[11] A. J. Lari, A. P. Sanfilippo, D. Bachour, and D. Perez-Astudillo, “Using Machine Learning Algorithms to Forecast Solar Energy Power Output,” Electronics, vol. 14, no. 5, p. 866, Feb. 2025,
[12] B. I. Oladapo, M. A. Olawumi, and F. T. Omigbodun, “Machine Learning for Optimising Renewable Energy and Grid Efficiency,” Atmosphere, vol. 15, no. 10, p. 1250, Oct. 2024,
[13] P. Suanpang and P. Jamjuntr, “Machine Learning Models for Solar Power Generation Forecasting in Microgrid Application Implications for Smart Cities,” Sustainability, vol. 16, no. 14, p. 6087, Jul. 2024,
[14] T. Cao, Z. Ye, Q. Wu, X. Wan, J. Wang, and D. Li, “A Review of Adaptive Control Methods for Grid-Connected PV Inverters in Complex Distribution Systems,” Energies, vol. 18, no. 3, p. 473, Jan. 2025,
[15] S. Xie, A. Kaneko, and Y. Hayashi, “A Decentralized Voltage Regulation Scheme Using Improved Volt‐Var Function of PV Smart Inverter,” IEEJ Transactions Elec Eng, vol. 19, no. 8, pp. 1300–1310, Aug. 2024,
[16] F. Liu, Y. Mu, and Z. Chen, “Control Strategy for Improving the Voltage Regulation Ability of Low-Carbon Energy Systems with High Proportion of Renewable Energy Integration,” Electronics, vol. 12, no. 11, p. 2513, Jun. 2023,
[17] Y. Li and M. Ishikawa, “An Efficient Reactive Power Control Method for Power Network Systems with Solar Photovoltaic Generators Using Sparse Optimization,” Energies, vol. 10, no. 5, p. 696, May 2017,
[18] T. Morstyn, B. Hredzak, and V. G. Agelidis, “Control Strategies for Microgrids With Distributed Energy Storage Systems: An Overview,” IEEE Trans. Smart Grid, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 3652–3666, Jul. 2018,
[19] J. Ma, X. Huang, B. Lou, X. Xiao, Y. Fan, and D. Zhou, “Adaptive Voltage Control of Distribution Network with High Proportion PV,” E3S Web Conf., vol. 252, p. 01033, 2021,
[20] N. B. G. Brinkel et al., “Impact of rapid PV fluctuations on power quality in the low-voltage grid and mitigation strategies using electric vehicles,” International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, vol. 118, p. 105741, Jun. 2020,
[21] F. Milano and M. Anghel, “Impact of Time Delays on Power System Stability,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I, vol. 59, no. 4, pp. 889–900, Apr. 2012,
[22] K. S. Turitsyn, P. Sulc, S. Backhaus, and M. Chertkov, “Local Control of Reactive Power by Distributed Photovoltaic Generators,” in 2010 First IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid Communications, Oct. 2010, pp. 79–84.
[23] H. Pandzic, Y. Wang, T. Qiu, Y. Dvorkin, and D. S. Kirschen, “Near-Optimal Method for Siting and Sizing of Distributed Storage in a Transmission Network,” IEEE Trans. Power Syst., vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 2288–2300, Sep. 2015,
[24] P. Sulc, K. Turitsyn, S. Backhaus, and M. Chertkov, “Options for Control of Reactive Power by Distributed Photovoltaic Generators,” Proc. IEEE, vol. 99, no. 6, pp. 1063–1073, Jun. 2011,
[25] Kouno K., Nakanishi E., Nagano Y., and Hojo M., “Reactive Power Control of Mega-solar System for Voltage Regulation with Long Distribution Line,” IEEJ Trans. PE, vol. 135, no. 5, pp. 276–289, 2015,
[26] D. Iioka, T. Fujii, T. Tanaka, T. Harimoto, and J. Motoyama, “Voltage Reduction in Medium Voltage Distribution Systems Using Constant Power Factor Control of PV PCS,” Energies, vol. 13, no. 20, p. 5430, Oct. 2020,
[27] A. Safayet, P. Fajri, and I. Husain, “Reactive power management for overvoltage prevention at high PV penetration in low voltage distribution system,” IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 53, no. 6, pp. 5786-5794, Nov.-Dec. 2017.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Tanvir, M. R. (2025). A Multi-agent Based Distributed Voltage Control Scheme Using Machine Learning and Smart Inverters. International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 14(5), 122-141. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.12

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Tanvir, M. R. A Multi-agent Based Distributed Voltage Control Scheme Using Machine Learning and Smart Inverters. Int. J. Energy Power Eng. 2025, 14(5), 122-141. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.12

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Tanvir MR. A Multi-agent Based Distributed Voltage Control Scheme Using Machine Learning and Smart Inverters. Int J Energy Power Eng. 2025;14(5):122-141. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.12

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.12,
      author = {Md Rayhan Tanvir},
      title = {A Multi-agent Based Distributed Voltage Control Scheme Using Machine Learning and Smart Inverters},
      journal = {International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering},
      volume = {14},
      number = {5},
      pages = {122-141},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepe.20251405.12},
      abstract = {A new distributed voltage control strategy for PV power systems that does not need support from centralized SVCs is proposed. The methodology uses smart inverters, agent-based coordination, and machine learning-based forecasting to offer a scalable and economical solution for decoupling voltage variations in the context of high penetration of PV. Each inverter acts as an autonomous agent that regulates its reactive power output using local voltage measurements and short-term irradiance predictions derived from a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model. The agents cooperate with their neighbors, utilizing a consensus algorithm for coordinated voltage control throughout the network. This decentralized strategy enables fast, adaptive, and cost-effective voltage stabilization without relying on hardware-intensive centralized devices. The effectiveness and reliability of the proposed control strategy are verified through a simulation study using a five-bus radial distributed generation (DG) system with high PV penetration. Simulation results on a five-bus radial distribution feeder show better voltage stability, fault recovery, and reactive power utilization as compared with conventional and existing distributed control strategies. The findings confirm the feasibility of software-defined, inverter-based voltage regulation as a practical alternative for future smart grids. In addition, the proposed framework offers extensibility to hybrid renewable energy systems, such as wind and storage, supporting the transition toward resilient, low-carbon, and data-driven energy infrastructures.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - A Multi-agent Based Distributed Voltage Control Scheme Using Machine Learning and Smart Inverters
    AU  - Md Rayhan Tanvir
    Y1  - 2025/12/09
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.12
    T2  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
    JF  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
    JO  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
    SP  - 122
    EP  - 141
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2326-960X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20251405.12
    AB  - A new distributed voltage control strategy for PV power systems that does not need support from centralized SVCs is proposed. The methodology uses smart inverters, agent-based coordination, and machine learning-based forecasting to offer a scalable and economical solution for decoupling voltage variations in the context of high penetration of PV. Each inverter acts as an autonomous agent that regulates its reactive power output using local voltage measurements and short-term irradiance predictions derived from a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model. The agents cooperate with their neighbors, utilizing a consensus algorithm for coordinated voltage control throughout the network. This decentralized strategy enables fast, adaptive, and cost-effective voltage stabilization without relying on hardware-intensive centralized devices. The effectiveness and reliability of the proposed control strategy are verified through a simulation study using a five-bus radial distributed generation (DG) system with high PV penetration. Simulation results on a five-bus radial distribution feeder show better voltage stability, fault recovery, and reactive power utilization as compared with conventional and existing distributed control strategies. The findings confirm the feasibility of software-defined, inverter-based voltage regulation as a practical alternative for future smart grids. In addition, the proposed framework offers extensibility to hybrid renewable energy systems, such as wind and storage, supporting the transition toward resilient, low-carbon, and data-driven energy infrastructures.
    VL  - 14
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Sections