The　unified　power　quality　conditioner　(UPQC)　has　become　one　of　the　most　proficient　solutions　for　compensating　the　effects　of　voltage　fluctuations,　harmonics,　sudden　load　changes　and　enhancing　the　power　quality　of　distribution　networks.　Aiming　at　the　shortcomings　of　conventional　compensation　control　strategies　and　enhancing　the　compensation　effect　of　UPQC,　this　paper　proposes　an　effective　control　strategy　for　UPQC　based　on　dq0　detection　method.　Furthermore,　the　space　vector　pulse　width　modulation　(SVPWM)　algorithm　is　improved　in　this　paper.　The　fundamental　and　harmonic　detection　on　the　power　supply　side　current　and　load　side　voltage　are　performed　through　the　proposed　strategy.　In　order　to　verify　the　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　control　strategy,　the　simulation　model　of　the　system　is　established　by　MATLAB/Simulink　under　three-phase　voltage　unbalance　conditions,　voltage　sag　and　load　sudden　changes.　In　addition,　an　experimental　verification　is　carried　out　on　an　installed　experimental　platform.　Under　normal　and　unbalance　operating　conditions　of　the　three-phase　power　supply　voltage,　the　proposed　control　strategy　has　a　better　fundamental　and　harmonic　detection　effect　compared　with　the　conventional　detection-based　control　strategy.　Furthermore,　under　different　load　sudden　changes　conditions,　it　is　verified　that　the　proposed　control　strategy　has　better　voltage　tracking　performance.　Finally,　the　outcomes　showed　the　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　control　strategy　in　maintaining　load　side　voltage　stability,　maintaining　power　side　current　sinusoidal,　and　enhancing　the　power　quality　of　the　distribution　network.　©　2020　The　Author(s)