In a microgrid, community power needs are met by local generation. No need for long extensive electricity poles and cables. The environmental attraction of these is that they can be ‘off the grid’ and largely run on renewable energy. However, from an engineering perspective, microgrids can also have lower energy transmission losses because the electricity is consumed in closer proximity to where it’s generated.
Apart from inconvenience, power outages can be dangerous. However, by having smaller independent microgrids rather than a central grid. In certain emergencies when a central grid is likely to fail, microgrids are less susceptible to failure and in the event one microgrid is down, the rest still work independently and serve as a refuge in case of emergencies. The independence from a main grid helps communities, businesses, and nations to become more energy secure.
Resilience is among the benefits of microgrids as it can supply power efficiently and quickly when it is needed, ramping up and ramping down when required as it uses renewable energy. Renewable energy used for microgrids i.e. solar help the community to cut its carbon emissions and produce clean, green and quiet electricity.
