ICIEA 2026 Special Session

SS10: Flexible Power Converters and Control Strategies for the Distribution Grid

Organized by:

Organizer 1: Mowei Lu

Email: ml2010@cam.ac.uk

Affiliation: University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Organizer 2: Mengjie Qin

Email: qmj19950815@stu.xjtu.edu.cn

Affiliation: University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Organizer 3: Pengfeng Lin

Email: pengfeng_lin@sjtu.edu.cn

Affiliation: Shanghai Jiaotong University, China

Summary of session:

Distribution networks are rapidly evolving as rooftop PV, batteries, high-power EV chargers, hydrogen and DC loads, and even AI data centers — often outside utility control — reach feeder-scale power levels. This results in congestion, local overloads, voltage/phase imbalance, reverse power flows, and reduced stability in highly meshed LV/MV grids. This session seeks original research that aims to shape and balance power flows, deliver dynamic voltage support, and provide ancillary services—from network segments to the single-residential level. Original research papers within the following areas are invited:

Power converter technologies

• Soft open points, energy routers, solid-state transformers (SST), E-STATCOM, interlinking converters, etc.
• Power converters for charging and operation of electric, hybrid electric, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
• Power electronics for PV inverters, string inverters, and energy storage converters.
• High-efficiency WBG-based power converter topology, modulation and design.

Control & coordination

• Control and power management solutions for ac-dc, dc-dc and dc-ac power converters and systems.
• Modeling and simulation techniques for power electronics converters, systems and components.
• Electric power quality ‒ voltage, frequency, harmonics impacts and mitigation.
• Microgrids and nanogrids ‒ grid interconnected and islanded operation.

Other emerging topics

• Development of power semiconductor modules for distributed-generation power electronics.
• Power electronics and cybersecurity in grid-connected systems.
• Energy and public policy for power-electronics-based distributed and sustainable generation.