In the last decade, the concept of grid-forming (GFM) converters has been introduced for microgrids and islanded power systems. Recently, the concept has been proposed for use in wider interconnected transmission networks, and several control structures have thus been developed, giving rise to discussions about the expected behaviour of such converters. In this paper, an overview of control schemes for GFM converters is provided. By identifying the main subsystems in respect to their functionalities, a generalized control structure is derived and different solutions for each of the main subsystems composing the controller are analyzed and compared. Subsequently, several selected open issues and challenges regarding GFM converters, i. e. angle stability, fault ride-through (FRT) capabilities, and transition from islanded to grid connected mode are discussed. Perspectives on challenges and future trends are lastly shared.

This document is a summary of a report prepared by the IEEE PES Task Force (TF) on Microgrid Stability Definitions, Analysis, and Modeling \cite{task}, which defines concepts and identifies relevant issues related to stability in microgrids. In this paper, definitions and classification of microgrid stability are presented and discussed, considering pertinent microgrid features such as voltage-frequency dependency, unbalancing, low inertia, and generation intermittency. A few examples are also presented, highlighting some of the stability classes defined in the paper. Further examples, along with discussions on microgrid components modeling and stability analysis tools can be found in the TF report.

Grid-tied voltage source inverters using LCL filter have been widely adopted in distributed power generation systems (DPGSs). As high-order LCL filters contain multiple resonant frequencies, switching harmonics generated by the inverter and current harmonics generated by the active/passive loads would cause the system resonance, and thus the output current distortion and oscillation. Such phenomenon is particularly critical when the power grid is weak with the unknown grid impedance. In order to stabilize the operation of the DPGS and improve the waveform of the injected currents, many innovative damping methods have been proposed. A comprehensive overview on those contributions and their classification on the inverter- and grid-side damping measures are presented. Based on the concept of the impedance-based stability analysis, all damping methods can ensure the system stability by modifying the effective output impedance of the inverter or the effective grid impedance. Classical damping methods for industrial applications will be analyzed and compared. Finally, the future trends of the impedance-based stability analysis, as well as some promising damping methods, will be discussed.

Power electronics systems are used increasingly in a wide range of application fields, such as variable-speed drives, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems. These elements have become crucial constituents in the further development of such emerging application fields as lighting, more-electric aircraft, and medical systems [1]. Reliable operation over the designed lifetime is essential for any power electronics system [2], particularly because the dependability of power electronics is becoming a prerequisite for system safety in several key areas, e.g., energy, medicine, and transportation [3].

The thermal stress of power electronic components is one of the most important causes of their failure. Proper thermal management plays an important role for more reliable and cost-effective energy conversion. As one of the most vulnerable and expensive components, power semiconductor components are the focus of this paper. Possible approaches to control the semiconductor junction temperature are discussed in this paper, along with the implementation in several emerging applications. The modification of the control variables at different levels (modulation, control, and system) to alter the loss generation or distribution is analyzed. Some of the control solutions presented in the literature, which showed experimentally that the thermal stress can be effectively reduced, are reviewed in detail. These results are often mission-profile dependent and the controller needs to be tuned to reach the desired cost-benefit tradeoff. This paper analyzes also the many open questions of this research area. Among them, it is worth highlighting that a verification of the actual lifetime extension is still missing.

The solid-state transformer (SST) was conceived as a replacement for the conventional power transformer, with both lower volume and weight. The smart transformer (ST) is an SST that provides ancillary services to the distribution and transmission grids to optimize their performance. Hence, the focus shifts from hardware advantages to functionalities. One of the most desired functionalities is the dc connectivity to enable a hybrid distribution system. For this reason, the ST architecture shall be composed of at least two power stages. The standard design procedure for this kind of system is to design each power stage for the maximum load. However, this design approach might limit additional services, like the reactive power compensation on the medium voltage (MV) side, and it does not consider the load regulation capability of the ST on the low voltage (LV) side. If the SST is tailored to the services that it shall provide, different stages will have different designs, so that the ST is no longer a mere application of the SST but an entirely new subject.