Centralized hierarchical volt/VAR control scheme based on model predictive control

Hierarchical Volt/VAR control schemes have been widely used in power systems to regulate voltage levels and optimize reactive power distribution. This paper proposes a centralized hierarchical Volt/VAR control strategy based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) that simultaneously addresses both objectives. Unlike conventional approaches, the proposed scheme eliminates the reliance on pilot nodes and instead regulates all node voltages within a predefined operating range. The control strategy optimally adjusts the reference values of Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVRs) and the active power setpoints of turbine-governors to enhance voltage stability while efficiently managing reactive power resources. The performance of the proposed approach was evaluated against a conventional hierarchical Volt/VAR control scheme in the IEEE 39-node New England power system. Results demonstrate that the MPC-based strategy significantly improves voltage regulation across all system nodes, ensuring greater stability and resilience under varying operating conditions.