A microgrid is a local group of generation, storage, and loads that can operate connected to the main grid or on its own. A campus, an airport, a data center, or a large parking facility with solar canopies and a battery can be run as one.
Examples
- Redwood Materials operates a 12 megawatt microgrid at its Nevada headquarters built from second-life EV batteries and solar, powering a data center.
- Airports and hospitals use microgrids to keep critical loads running through utility outages and public safety power shutoffs.
Why it matters for parking
Parking structures have the roof area for solar, the floor area for storage, and the connected load of EV chargers. That combination is a microgrid waiting for a controller.