Microgrids

An article in the Wall Street Journal today talks microgrids.  These are a potential solution going forward to address electric grid issues.  There are a few problems that have to be addressed, however.  The first is integrating the local power generation back into the grid.  That requires rewiring, as well as load balancing by the main electric grid supplier (which also costs money).  Another issue is that as more local power is produced, the main electric grid supplier is supplying less power (which could be a good thing), but that also means they are making less money.  At some point it doesn't become profitable.  That does have to be addressed, as for the foreseeable future, there are reasons to need primary power production.