# Networked Microgrids: A Review on Configuration, Operation, and Control Strategies
## 3 Networked Microgrids' Control
### Control
#### 3.2.1 Control Architecture  
Control architecture, in a broader sense, refers to the overarching design and arrangement of control systems that govern and manage the behavior of complex systems [197]. In the context of networked microgrids, control architecture plays a pivotal role in dictating  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Control Features** & **Categories** & **Features** & **Limits** & **Ref. ** \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{Architecture} & \multirow{2}{*}{Centralized} & Effective in situations requiring precise coordination and centralized controller. & \(\bullet\) & Single-point communication. & \\  & & & \(\bullet\) & Reliability issues. & \\  & & & & \(\bullet\) & Strugle with a large number of agents. & [109; 110; 111; 112; 113; 114; 115; 116; 117; 118; 119] \\ \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{2}{*}{Decentralized} & Enhance privacy protection of & \(\bullet\) & Difficulty in achieving system-wide objectives & \\  & & MGs, facilitates & \(\bullet\) & Increased vulnerability to communication failures. & \\  & & & & \\  & & & & \(\bullet\) & Limited scalability with a growing number of agents. & \\ \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{2}{*}{Distributed} & Ensure regular operation of & \(\bullet\) & Privacy concern. & \\  & & NMGs by adjusting voltage & \(\bullet\) & Increased vulnerability to communication failures. & [127; 128; 129; 130; 131; 132; 133; 134; 135; 136; 137; 138; 139; 140; 141; 142; 143; 144; 145; 146; 147; 148] \\ \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{2}{*}{Distributed} & Ensure regular operation of & \(\bullet\) & Privacy concern. & \\  & & NMGs by adjusting voltage & \(\bullet\) & Privacy concern. & \\  & & and frequency, even without & \(\bullet\) & Increased vulnerability to communication failures. & [127; 128; 129; 130; 131; 132; 133; 134; 135; 136; 137; 138; 139; 140; 141; 142; 143; 144; 145; 146; 147; 148] \\ \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{2}{*}{Master-Slave} & Enable centralized & \(\bullet\) & Single-point communication. & \\  & & DS. & \(\bullet\) & Reliability issues. & [109; 110; 111; 112; 113; 1149] \\ \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{2}{*}{P2P} & Allow decentralized decision & \(\bullet\) & Increased communication complexity in large-scale systems. & \\  & & DS. & \(\bullet\) & Limited scalability with a growing number of peers. & [130; 140; 143; 144; 145; 146; 147; 148] \\ \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{2}{*}{Hierarchical} & Provide a structured approach & \(\bullet\) & Potential delays in decision making due to multi-level hierarchy. & \\  & & with levels of decision making, facilitating coordination & \(\bullet\) & Increased vulnerability to failures in higher-level controllers. & [114; 161; 162; 163; 164; 165; 166; 167; 168; 169; 170] \\ \cline{2-5}  & & between MGs and DS. & \(\bullet\) & Complexity in ensuring alignment between local and global objectives. & \\ \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{2}{*}{Droop-Based} & Aid in load sharing and & \(\bullet\) & Less able to manage all dynamic behaviors of NMGs. & [171; 172; 173; 174; 175; 176; 177; 178; 179; 180; 181; 182; 183; 184] \\ \cline{2-5}  & & maintain voltage and & \(\bullet\) & Less applicable in large-scale networks. & [171; 172; 173; 174; 175; 176; 177; 178; 179; 180; 181; 183; 184] \\ \cline{2-5}  & \multirow{2}{*}{Droop-Based} & ASI in determining optimal setpoints for various operational parameters of NMGs. & \(\bullet\) & Less applicable in large-scale networks. & [109; 110; 112; 113; 137; 138; 139; 140; 141; 142; 143; 144; 145; 146; 147; 148; 149; 150; 151; 152; 153; 154; 155; 156; 157; 158; 159; 160; 161; 162; 163; 164; 165; 166; 167; 168;how various system components, such as generators, energy storage units, loads, and controllers, interact and communicate to ensure the smooth and dependable operation of the networked microgrids. It delineates the process of data acquisition, analysis, and utilization for making informed control decisions. Three primary control architecture options exist for networked microgrids: centralized, decentralized, and distributed.