ABSTRACT
The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic and wind energy has transformed the structure of modern power systems. Unlike conventional synchronous generators, these renewable sources are connected through power electronic inverters which do not inherently provide inertia or voltage support to the grid. This has led to serious challenges in grid stability, especially in weak grids and microgrids. To address this issue, advanced inverter control strategies known as grid-forming (GFM) and grid supporting (GFS) controls have emerged. Grid-forming inverters can establish voltage and frequency references, behaving similar to synchronous machines, while grid-supporting inverters assist the grid by providing ancillary services such as reactive power compensation and frequency regulation. This paper presents a comprehensive review of grid-forming and grid-supporting inverter control techniques, their principles, modeling approaches, control strategies, stability issues, and practical applications. Comparative analysis between both approaches is discussed along with future research directions.
KEYWORDS: Grid-forming inverter, Grid-supporting inverter, Virtual inertia, Droop control, Microgrid, Renewable integration, Power electronics control.
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