Vaidya, SPrasad, KKilby, J2025-05-112025-05-112025-04-17Energies, ISSN: 1996-1073 (Print); 1996-1073 (Online), MDPI AG, 18(8), 2065-2065. doi: 10.3390/en180820651996-10731996-1073http://hdl.handle.net/10292/19175The world is increasingly turning to renewable energy sources (RES) to address climate change issues and achieve net-zero carbon emissions. Integrating RES into existing power grids is necessary for sustainability because the unpredictability and irregularity of the RES can affect grid stability and generate power quality issues, leading to equipment damage and increasing operational costs. As a result, the importance of RES is severely compromised. To tackle these challenges, traditional power systems (TPS) will have to become more innovative. Smart grids use advanced technology such as two-way communication between consumers and service providers, automated control, and real-time monitoring to manage power flow effectively. Inverters are effective tools for solving power quality problems in renewable-powered smart grids. However, their effectiveness depends on topology, control method and design. This review paper focuses on the role of multilevel inverters (MLIs) in mitigating power quality issues such as voltage sag, swell and total harmonics distortion (THD). The results shown here are through simulation studies using DC sources but can be extended to RES-integrated smart grids. The comprehensive review also examines the drawbacks of TPS to understand the importance and necessity of developing a smart power system. Finally, the paper discusses future trends in MLI control technology, addressing power quality problems in smart grid environments.© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/40 Engineering4008 Electrical Engineering4009 Electronics, Sensors and Digital Hardware13 Climate Action7 Affordable and Clean Energy02 Physical Sciences09 Engineering33 Built environment and design40 Engineering51 Physical sciencesJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.3390/en18082065