A record 546 microgrids were installed in the United States during 2019, more than any previous year, according to new research from Wood MacKenzie. While 2019 saw a record number of microgrid systems installed, annual capacity was down 7 percent from 2018.
A microgrid is a self-sufficient energy system that serves a discrete geographic footprint, such as a college campus, hospital complex, business center or neighborhood. They are usually attached to a centralized national grid, though they are capable of operating independently.
“Most of the systems installed last year were below 5 megawatts. This is part of a larger trend we are seeing. The market has shifted from being led by projects above 5 megawatt pre-2017 to smaller systems starting in 2017,” said Isaac Maze-Rothstein, an analyst at Wood Mackenzie Research, and author of the report. “Technology-neutral microgrid developers are taking notice and developing more modular designs.”
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