Microgrids -- areas of independently-operating electrical grid that include power generation, smart electric devices, and/or energy storage -- have historically been confined to military bases and hospitals; In short, places that need the most reliable power. Now, microgrids are an increasingly viable option for grid users seeking lower prices, more renewables, and more choice than offered by their monopoly utility. However, decades-old grid rules make arranging mullti-customer microgrids a challenge.
Here you’ll find ILSR’s original research and perspective on microgrids.
Communities all over the country are finding ways to break the macro barriers to microgrids. As we flip from a top-down to bottom-up grid management structure, major policy barriers must be lifted in order to expand energy democracy to customers and producers.READ THE REPORT
In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Matthew Marshall, Executive Director of Redwood Coast Energy Authority. The two discuss the community choice energy model and finding local resilience with microgrids.READ MORE
In this May 2019 interview, ILSR’s Director of Energy Democracy John Farrell, and Ingrid Vila - an engineer and director of Cambio, a Puerto Rico based nonprofit - discussed the enormous opportunity, and the pitfalls the island must avoid, to seize the island's chance for energy democracy.READ MORE
In this episode of Local Energy Rules, Energy Democracy Initiative director John Farrell speaks with Marcel Castro Sitiriche about the challenges Puerto Rico faces in building a local, clean, and resilient energy system in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.READ MORE
With our electric vehicle report hot off the presses, Microgrid Knowledge looks toward another innovative technology and how it relates to microgrids in creating a more self-reliant and renewable grid. The author pays special attention to the possibility of vehicle-to-grid relationships and interviews our own John Farrell for his perspective on changing technologies.READ MORE
On October 18th, John Farrell delivered a keynote presentation to the annual gathering of the BioCycle Renewable Energy from Organics Recycling (REFOR16) in Orlando, Florida. In this presentation, Farrell details how microgrids are a realistic piece of our renewable energy future and the intersection of biogas and other renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind energy.READ MORE
