Rural electrification in isolated communities requires reliable and affordable renewable solutions. This paper analyses a hybrid microgrid case study in a rural area integrating PV–biomass–BESS using mathematical models and simulations in MATLAB/Simulink Version 2025a, characterizing local resources (climate and biomass), and evaluating irradiance, temperature, and demand profiles. On typical days, the system meets demand with overall efficiencies of 93–103%; solar energy contributes 6.8–8.9 kWh/day (37–42%), biomass 9.5–13.2 kWh/day (54–62%), and BESS ≈ 0.6 kWh/day (≈3%), operating at 60–90% SoC. Between March and June, photovoltaic generation increased from 7.2 to 8.9 kWh/day (+23.6%), raising overall efficiency from 97% to 103%; in October, the contribution was 40% PV, 57% biomass, and 3% BESS. Coordinated operation—prioritizing solar and scheduling biomass at peaks—is robust and replicable. It is recommended to increase photovoltaic collection by ~20% and add ≥2.5 kWh of storage to reduce biomass dependence by 15–20% and improve nighttime autonomy. This integrated approach to solar generation, biomass management, and storage for efficient and sustainable supply is applied and validated in a theoretical case study developed in the rural area of Argelia-Viotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.

The problem regarding the optimal placement and sizing of different FACTS (flexible alternating current transmission systems) in electrical distribution networks is addressed in this research by applying a master–slave optimization approach. The FACTS analyzed correspond to the unified power flow controller (UPFC), the thyristor-controlled shunt compensator (TCSC, also known as the thyristor switched capacitor, or TSC), and the static var compensator (SVC). The master stage is entrusted with defining the location and size of each FACTS device using hybrid discrete-continuous codification through the application of the black widow optimization (BWO) approach. The slave stage corresponds to the successive approximations power flow method based on the admittance grid formulation, which allows determining the expected costs of the energy losses for a one-year operation period. The numerical results in the IEEE 33-, 69-, and 85-bus grids demonstrate that the best FACTS device for locating in distribution networks is the SVC, given that, when compared to the UPFC and the TCSC, it allows for the best possible reduction in the equivalent annual investment and operating cost. A comparative analysis with the General Algebraic Modeling System software, with the aim to solve the exact mixed-integer nonlinear programming model, demonstrated the proposed BWO approach’s effectiveness in determining the best location and size for the FACTS in radial distribution networks. Reductions of about $12.63\%$ and $13.97\%$ concerning the benchmark cases confirmed that the SVC is the best option for reactive power compensation in distribution grids.

This article presents a comparative experimental evaluation of some power calculation methods used for three-phase and single-phase systems. In order to make the comparison, methods based on three reference frames, the natural one, αβ and dq, are considered. This paper addresses the experimental comparison for single-phase systems facing sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal waveforms in both linear and non-linear loads. The results are obtained from an experimental platform consisting of a controlled voltage inverter and an acquisition system based on a TMS320F28335, where the power calculation algorithms are implemented. The experimental comparison of the different methods for active and reactive power calculation is made in terms of accuracy and processing time in digital implementation.

This paper presents a study by simulation of the performance of two of the current topologies for the interconnection of batteries and supercapacitors in a Hybrid Energy Storage System with potential application in electric microgrids. Converters selection is made taking into account the most used topologies documented in the literature for the integration of storage technologies. Control strategies are implemented pursuing the goal of prolonging the lifetime of batteries, using the supercapacitor for reducing the dynamic component of the current from a pulsed current load to the batteries.

Este artículo presenta una revisión de las principales tecnologías para almacenamiento de energía y su utilización en micro redes eléctricas. La utilización de fuentes de energía renovable en sistemas de distribución de energía eléctrica aumenta los requerimientos de instrumentación, gestión y control, debido al grado de intermitencia y variabilidad de dichas fuentes. Los sistemas de almacenamiento brindan la confiabilidad, disponibilidad y calidad del servicio que se requiere. Sin embargo, la selección del sistema de almacenamiento debe ser parte del diseño de la microred, teniendo en cuenta los objetivos y las características requeridas. El análisis muestra que la implementación de sistemas de almacenamiento de energía en una micro red mejora los transitorios, la capacidad, aumenta la potencia instantánea y permite la introducción de sistemas renovables de energía.