This paper deals with the problem of adaptive control of uncertain nonlinear port-controlled Hamiltonian systems subject to actuator saturation, and proposes a number of results on the control design. Firstly, the adaptive stabilization problem is studied, and a control design method is developed by using both the dissipative Hamiltonian structural and saturated actuator properties. Secondly, for the case that there are both parametric uncertainties and external disturbances in the AS systems, an adaptive H ∞ control design approach is presented. Finally, study of an example of power systems with simulations shows that the adaptive controller proposed in this paper is effective.