Can microgrids bring electricity to all?

Most generate their own power using renewable energy like wind and solar. In power outages when the main electricity grid fails, microgrids can keep going. They can also be used to provide power in remote areas. A nun in the Democratic Republic of Congo is showing the world how microgrids can bring electricity to all.

How do microgrids generate power?

Since the energy (power and heat) are created close to where they are used, microgrids are a form of distributed generation. Historically, microgrids generated power using fossil fuel-fired combined heat and power (CHP) and reciprocating engine generators.

What are microgrids & how do they work?

Microgrids are local power grids that can be operated independently of the main – and generally much bigger – electricity grid in an area. Microgrids can be used to power a single building, like a hospital or police station, or a collection of buildings, like an industrial park, university campus, military base or neighbourhood.

What happens if a microgrid is grid-connected?

If the microgrid is grid-connected (i.e., connected to the main electric grid), then the community can draw power from the main electric grid to supplement its own generation as needed or sell power back to the main electric grid when it is generating excess power.

What happens when a microgrid loses power?

When the main electric grid loses power, the microgrid goes into island mode (i.e., operates independently of the main electric grid) and serves its own customers with the generation and other DERs (i.e., batteries or vehicle-to-grid electric vehicles) operating within the microgrid.

Are microgrids self-contained?

But because microgrids are self-contained, they may operate in “island mode,” meaning they function autonomously and deliver power on their own. They usually are comprised of several types of distributed energy resources (DERs), such as solar panels, wind turbines, fuel cells and energy storage systems.