Why does residential rooftop solar need a microgrid?

To understand why residential rooftop solar demands a microgrid, you need a bit of background on the electricity distribution grid, how the flow of power on it is managed, the importance of the quality of that power, and how today’s residential solar works. Let’s start with the grid.

How can a microgrid ensure continuous electricity?

Two ways to ensure continuous electricity regardless of the weather or an unforeseen event are by using distributed energy resources (DER) and microgrids. DER produce and supply electricity on a small scale and are spread out over a wide area. Rooftop solar panels, backup batteries, and emergency diesel generators are examples of DER.

How does a microgrid control frequency and voltage?

Control of frequency and voltage – so-called primary and secondary control – can be achieved either under the guidance of a microgrid central controller (MGCC) that sends explicit commands to the distributed energy resources or in a decentralized manner, like CERTS, in which each resource responds to local conditions.

Can blockchain be used to control voltage in a microgrid?

Researchers, practitioners, and even large European energy companies, for applications like electric vehicle charging, are starting to apply secure peer-to-peer platforms like blockchain-based distributed ledgers to peer-to-peer energy markets , . One focus area is the market for voltage control in distribution networks with microgrids.

Are microgrids part of the restructured New York electricity market?

The ecosystem of players in the restructured New York electricity market includes smaller generating companies called Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Microgrids, as such, do not fit neatly into the classes of market participant defined by restructuring, perhaps because they transcend the categories of generation, transmission, and distribution.

Is a microgrid considered an Electric Corporation?

A microgrid is likely to be considered an electric corporation if it intends to serve multiple, otherwise unrelated, retail customers, cross a public way with power lines, and/or obtain a franchise from a local authority. The reasons for this conclusion are discussed below in more detail.