Microgrids play a crucial role in modernizing the power grid by facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources. However, these sources exhibit high intermittency and stochastic behaviour, leading to challenges in effectively managing a microgrid amidst varying load demand and unexpected grid events. To address these uncertainties, local advanced control methods that leverage real-time data and enhanced computing capabilities are required. Frequency droop controllers generate additional power faster than the allocated power reserve to achieve an instantaneous balance of the electrical system. The automatic frequency restoration consists in making other generators participate gradually after 30 seconds. This paper proposes an intelligent control technique designed to enhance the static frequency droop controller, aiming to achieve active power balancing while minimizing CO \({ }_{2}\) emissions and operating costs. Consequently, an artificial neural network-based adaptive module is developed to anticipate and substitute the diesel-based reserve with a low carbon footprint reserve. This module considers new influencing input factors to anticipate and adjust the power setpoints of a stationary storage unit. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated on an islanded AC microgrid. The real-time simulation is conducted and validated on Opal-RT simulator, showing improved active power balancing while reducing both costs and CO \({ }_{2}\) emissions.