Future Grid

1. Energy-management system 2. Solar panels/3. Smart meter 4. Smart inverter/5. Storage battery/6. House breaker panel 1D) AN INDEPENDENT CONNECTION ATYPICAL RESIDENTIAL MICROGRID connects a group of homes that have their own power sources and energy storage. The microgrid connects to the main podt grid at a distribution transformer [center, blue]. In an electrical dis- turbance, the microgrid can pro- tectitself by disconnecting from the main grid [bottom, red], usually at or near the distribution trans- former that connects the two. Iso- lated like this, the microgrid can continue to function indefinitely. Inside the home [top, yellow], an energy-management system takes into account time of day and other factors to minimize electric- ity costs. Ina future microgrid, all of the individual management sys- tems will communicate to maxi- mize efficiency, lower costs, and regulate demand.