Microgrid Company Development History

When was the first microgrid built?

According to Pike Research, the first “modern industrial microgrid in the United States was a 64 MW facility constructed in 1955 at the Whitling Refinery in Indiana,” but most people are not aware the concept is much older. The microgrid concept dates back to the beginning of our industry.

What is a microgrid?

A microgrid is a mini-version of the electric grid, which fits the “micro” notion, but the origins of the word have been lost in history.

Who owns a microgrid?

According to Navigant Research , the majority of grid-tied microgrids today are owned and financed by facility owners, especially in the campus/institutional category. It is important to recognize that microgrids, especially community microgrids, can utilize the existing distribution system infrastructure, radically reducing their costs.

Is a microgrid considered an Electric Corporation?

A microgrid is likely to be considered an electric corporation if it intends to serve multiple, otherwise unrelated, retail customers, cross a public way with power lines, and/or obtain a franchise from a local authority. The reasons for this conclusion are discussed below in more detail.

Are microgrids a potential for a modernized electric infrastructure?

1. Introduction Electricity distribution networks globally are undergoing a transformation, driven by the emergence of new distributed energy resources (DERs), including microgrids (MGs). The MG is a promising potential for a modernized electric infrastructure , .

Why is microgrid research and development focusing on “intelligence”?

Increasingly, microgrid research and development is focusing on adding “intelligence” to optimize operational controls and market participation , , , , , , , , , , , . 3. Microgrid motivation