A term that shows up increasingly in energy resilience conversations, worth understanding at a basic level even if it doesn't apply to most individual homes yet.
What a microgrid actually is
A microgrid is a localized group of electricity sources (solar, batteries, sometimes generators) and loads that can operate connected to the main grid or disconnect and run independently ("islanding") during an outage — essentially a scaled-up version of the grid-tied-with-battery-backup concept covered throughout our storage guides, applied to a neighborhood, campus, or community rather than a single home.
How it differs from a single home's solar and battery
Your own home's battery backup serves just your property; a microgrid serves multiple connected properties or facilities as a coordinated unit, sharing generation and storage resources across the group rather than each building having entirely separate systems.
Where microgrids are actually being deployed today
Common current applications include university and hospital campuses, military bases, and some newer planned communities — situations where a single entity can coordinate the investment and where resilience value is especially high (critical facilities that can't tolerate extended outages).
Community and neighborhood microgrids are emerging but limited
Some pilot programs and newer developments have implemented neighborhood-scale microgrids, but this remains far less common than individual home solar and battery systems — most homeowners today are working within the traditional grid-tied or off-grid framework covered throughout this site, not a microgrid.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build a microgrid just for my own home?
A single home's solar-plus-battery system with island-mode capability during outages is functionally similar in concept, though the term 'microgrid' is more commonly used for systems serving multiple connected buildings or a broader community.
Are microgrids more resilient than individual home battery systems?
They can offer resilience benefits through shared resources and coordination, but they also add complexity and require coordination among multiple parties — whether a microgrid or individual system is 'better' depends heavily on the specific situation and stakeholders involved.