Microgrids Become Reality as Superstorm Sandy's Anniversary Nears

In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, when most of lower Manhattan was a sea of darkness, New York University's Washington Square campus shone like a beacon in the night.

In response to Superstorm Sandy, which made landfall last Oct. 30, leaders at all levels of the U.S. government have identified microgrids like the one at NYU as key components to improving energy resiliency on the East Coast.  A recent federal report by the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force cites microgrid systems as a means of mitigating the sprawling impacts of disasters fueled by climate change.

There's no official definition of a microgrid, but they're generally considered to be self-contained grid systems equipped with on-site power generation, like a combined heat and power (CHP) plant or a renewable resource like wind or solar.  As isolated entities, microgrids can keep operating even in the event of a large-scale power outage.

Microgrids Become Reality as Superstorm Sandy's Anniversary Nears