Microgrid Visio Gallery

What is a microgrid?

The DOE defines a microgrid as a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources (DERs) within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the power grid.

What is a microgrid Design Toolkit (MDT)?

Sandia National Laboratories developed the Microgrid Design Toolkit (MDT), a decision support software for microgrid designers that is publicly available for download.

What is a microgrid design tool?

The MDT allows designers to model, analyze, and optimize the size and composition of new microgrids or modifications to existing systems. Technology management, cost, performance, reliability, and resilience metrics are all offered by the tool.

Will grid-tied microgrid customers stay connected if the grid fails?

Although grid-tied microgrid customers will likely stay connected to the grid for the foreseeable future, only islanding in the case of utility grid failure, self-consumption of microgrid generated energy could erode the revenue base that has traditionally paid for utility infrastructure investments.

What happens if a microgrid goes down?

Microgrids can provide power to important facilities and communities using their distributed generation assets when the main grid goes down. Because electrical grids are run near critical capacity, a seemingly innocuous problem in a small part of the system can lead to a domino effect that takes down an entire electrical grid .

What drives microgrid development?

Resilience, efficiency, sustainability, flexibility, security, and reliability are key drivers for microgrid developments. These factors motivate the need for integrated models and tools for microgrid planning, design, and operations at higher and higher levels of complexity.