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In this paper, a simplified nearest level control balancing method for modular multilevel converter is presented. The proposed method neither requires individual sorting of the submodule voltages nor the redundancy of the switching states. Once the sorting of the submodules is done on the basis of the number of the submodules to be switched on, the identifications of the submodules can be carried out throughout the stages of the implementation of the this method. The proposed method also does not require the individual submodule status in the gate pulse generation stage. The gate logic in the presented method can be implemented with the help of the switching states of the voltage levels. Those simplifications and removing of the some of the stages by the proposed balancing method may ease and lead to the less processor time at the implementation level. The pictorial presentation further helps in consolidating the understanding of the different stages of the method. Rigorous simulations are carried out for open and one of the prominent closed-loop applications, i.e., modular multilevel converter-based high-voltage direct current to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed simplified balancing method under normal and emergency conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]