The　controlled　islanding　problem　is　typically　considered　only　for　pure　ac　power　systems,　with　the　ultimate　objective　of　either　minimising　power　imbalance　or　power-flow　among　islands.　However,　as　ac/dc　hybrid　power　systems　are　becoming　popular　worldwide,　current　controlled　islanding　schemes　should　be　redesigned　to　take　into　account　the　presence　of　high-voltage　dc　(HVDC)　links,　possibly　connecting　different　islands.　Accordingly,　in　this　study,　the　authors　solve　the　classic　islanding　problem　combining　HVDC　power　modulation　with　the　conventional　ac　cutset　search.　The　flexibility　of　the　HVDC　allows　the　authors’　strategy　to　jointly　capture　the　previously　mentioned　objectives,　and　provides　even　lower　power　imbalances　than　the　minimum　imbalance　strategy,　at　a　relatively　small　cost　of　increasing　power-flow　impact.　Then,　the　optimisation　problem　is　formulated　as　a　mixed-integer　linear　programming　problem,　which　can　be　conveniently　solved　with　existing　commercial　solvers.　Finally,　they　validate　their　proposed　strategy　in　two　case　studies,　corresponding　to　a　modified　IEEE-118　system　and　to　the　China　Southern　Power　Grid　system.　In　both　cases,　dynamic　simulations　show　that　their　proposed　approach　outperforms　classic　algorithms　where　the　presence　of　HVDC　power　modulation　is　not　explicitly　taken　into　account.　©　The　Institution　of　Engineering　and　Technology　2020.