**Abstract**

In the last few decades, among the wide range of renewable energy sources, wind energy is widely used. Variable speed wind energy conversion systems based on double fed induction generator have a considerable interest mostly in case of islanded networks and/or isolated applications. In this paper, as a means to supply remote areas, an investigation of a wind energy conversion system (WECS) based on a double fed induction generator (DFIG) is carried out. The presence of both wind turbine aerodynamics and DFIG coupled dynamics causes strong nonlinearities in the studied system. Wind speed and demanded power variations have a major impact on the quality of the produced energy. In order to control and maintain the stator output voltage and frequency at their nominal values (220 V/50 Hz) under wind speed and load variations, this work presents a study of three kinds of controllers: PI, Back-Stepping and Sliding Mode controllers. These controllers are integrated in the studied system and a comparison of their dynamic performances has been developed. Moreover, in order to ensure the rotor side converter safety on the one hand and to guarantee an optimal operation of the DFIG on the other hand, a management strategy is proposed in this work. Simulation results are performed using Matlab/Simulink environment and show the effectiveness and the accuracy of each controller compared to others mainly with the presence of wind speed and load demand variations.

**Keywords:** wind energy conversion system, double fed induction generator, PI controller, back-stepping controller, sliding mode controller
