Holistic Cyber-Physical Approach for the Performance Evaluation of Communication and Control Systems in DC Microgrids

Advancements in power electronics and renewable energy systems drive the increasing interest in DC microgrids (MGs). These microgrids integrate distributed generation units (DGUs) with storage systems and loads, requiring robust hierarchical control systems to ensure operational stability and efficiency. This study focuses on implementing and analyzing secondary control strategies in DC microgrids that operate under different communication protocols. The considered control strategies have been demonstrated to be adequate solutions for the hierarchical control of microgrids. However, most studies overlook how the communication system influences efficiency. Therefore, a cyber-physical setup is utilized to evaluate the performance of centralized and distributed control schemes using protocols such as I2C, CAN Bus, Bluetooth, and ESP-NOW. The results reveal significant differences in communication delays and control efficiency, with I2C and ESP-NOW demonstrating superior performance in distributed controls, while Bluetooth was more suitable for centralized strategies. The findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate communication technologies to optimize microgrid stability and response under real-world conditions. This research provides experimental validation and comparative analysis to guide protocol selection for future DC microgrid deployments.