Advanced tech developed to strengthen renewable energy grids
Md Shakhawat Hossain, a Bangladeshi electrical engineer and graduate researcher at Lamar University in Texas, is contributing to the future of renewable energy systems through innovative research on power grid stability.
His recent research focuses on improving the reliability of renewable-dominated power systems, a critical challenge as countries increasingly adopt solar and wind energy.
Hossain recently co-authored a research study titled “Adaptive Grid-Forming Control with Hybrid Fault Ride-Through for Transient Stability in Inverter-Dominant Microgrids.”
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The research proposes an advanced control strategy that allows modern power converters to behave like traditional generators, ensuring stable voltage and frequency even during severe disturbances.
As renewable energy sources such as solar and wind replace conventional power plants, maintaining grid stability has become a major technical challenge worldwide.
Traditional grid-following converters often struggle in weak grid conditions. Hossain’s work introduces a grid-forming control framework based on the Virtual Synchronous Machine (VSM) concept, enabling renewable energy systems to mimic the stabilizing characteristics of conventional generators.
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The proposed system integrates multiple renewable sources—including solar photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, and battery storage—into a coordinated microgrid.
The research demonstrates that the system can maintain voltage within ±3 percent of nominal levels while limiting fault currents and providing reactive power support during grid disturbances.
These capabilities significantly improve the resilience of power networks operating with high levels of renewable energy.
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According to Hossain, the goal of the research is to support the transition toward cleaner and more decentralized energy systems.
“Future power systems will rely heavily on renewable sources. To make this transition successful, we must ensure that these systems remain stable, reliable, and capable of handling faults or disturbances,” he explained.
The research also addresses fault ride-through requirements required by modern grid codes, ensuring that renewable power plants remain connected during short-term faults instead of shutting down. This capability helps prevent large-scale power outages and improves overall system reliability.
Experts believe innovations like this are crucial for achieving global climate and energy goals. As many countries aim to expand renewable energy capacity, advanced control strategies for power electronics will play a vital role in maintaining stable and secure electricity systems.
Hossain has more than a decade of professional experience in the power generation and oil-and-gas industries and has worked on large-scale power plant projects before pursuing advanced academic research. His work bridges industry experience with cutting-edge academic innovation, focusing on technologies that can support next-generation smart grids and renewable energy integration.
Looking ahead, Hossain plans to expand his research through real-time hardware validation and practical implementation of grid-forming converter technologies. The long-term goal is to develop scalable solutions that can be used in microgrids, smart grids, and renewable-energy-dominated power systems worldwide.
With global energy systems undergoing rapid transformation, researchers like Md Shakhawat Hossain are helping shape the technologies that will power a cleaner and more resilient future.
