The Role of Energy Storage in a Microgrid Concept: Examining the opportunities and promise of microgrids.

A Microgrid is a cluster of distributed generation (DG), renewable sources, and local loads connected to the utility grid. A microgrid provides a solution to manage local generations and loads as a single grid-level entity. It has the potential to maximize overall system efficiency, power quality, and energy surety for critical loads. The Microgrid Exchange Group, an ad hoc group of expert and implementers of microgrid technology, has defined a microgrid as a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. A microgrid can connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island mode.