The external electrical characteristics of the lithium battery, PV generator, hydrogen production unit (HPU) and fuel cell in islanded AC microgrid are well analyzed with mathematic models, based on which an energy management system among the abovementioned elements is proposed by using the bus frequency signaling. Specifically, the functions of lithium battery with the variables of the residual capacity and instantaneous working power are well designed to deliver its operation information to other units. The P-f droop control strategy is designed for the PV generator to make it adaptively work off from the maximum power point to the reference power point. The control strategy of HPU can make it work from the maximum efficiency point mode to the allowable maximum power point mode to absorb PV output power as much as possible when the lithium battery is almost getting full charged. Similarly, the fuel cell controller can regulate its power generation from the maximum efficiency point mode to the maximum power point to supply the local load as much as possible when the lithium battery is almost getting full discharged. Finally, the proposed energy management system is verified based on RTLAB experimental platform to show the effectiveness of the proposed coordination control strategy. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.