We’re in the age of AI, American industrial reshoring, new construction and electrified transportation. It's time to update the power grid for this bright future.

Early microgrid power systems were isolated, designed to serve small local areas without interacting with other systems. Typically, these investments only made sense for industrial users who could not tolerate service disruption from the centralized grid. These users built “islanded” microgrids to isolate themselves from the rest of the electric system, switching between one source and the other, similar to the way one operates a home backup generator.

Naturally, these microgrid solutions were expensive, fixed in place and fit for only the most demanding users.

But, appropriately reconceived, microgrids can also play a crucial role in enhancing grid functionality. With the right technology, distributed generation (DG) can complement, as well as supplement, the existing distribution grid.

At our company, we’re reimagining microgrids as modular, mobile solutions that augment the grid when and where it’s needed most.

Historical Aside

Early DG adopters thought of microgrids as permanent, expensive infrastructure meant to replace the grid for days or even weeks at a time. These systems came with high upfront costs, decades-long useful lives, and a mindset that they should operate independently of the grid.

But, as we built these distributed generation technologies, we learned something surprising: when used creatively, microgrids could help solve grid challenges, including:

• Improving reliability for customers.

• Responding to price signals to reduce energy costs.

• Shouldering load burdens during peak demand.

• Reducing the impact of long lead times on grid infrastructure upgrades.

However, early implementations were ad hoc, requiring extensive engineering reviews and manual coordination, thereby limiting functionality. These slow, resource-intensive processes cemented the idea that microgrids were suitable only for large, long-term projects.

Our Vision: A Mobile Grid that Works with the Grid

We see a different future—one where microgrids are not 25-year CAPEX projects but flexible, rapidly deployable systems designed to integrate with the grid. Rather than being standalone replacements, they augment grid functionality, address short-term challenges, and unlock new possibilities for distributed generation.

Our solution combines innovative hardware and software to enable customers to:

• Deploy modular systems tailored to immediate needs.

• Address grid issues like transformer replacements, voltage instability, and summer peak charges.

• Avoid stranded assets by responding to evolving energy demands and avoiding long interconnection delays.

Who Cares?

Many major companies in construction, transportation, shipping, e-commerce, agriculture, and data centers are already embracing this approach. Why? Because they face grid challenges that threaten operations, including:

• Power shortages and sub-voltage conditions.

• Operational disruptions caused by poor power quality.

• Lengthy utility timelines for addressing grid issues.

For these customers, operational losses are not theoretical—they mean real impacts, from missed revenue opportunities to delayed commissioning of critical equipment.

What’s Changed?

The transformation is enabled by advancements in:

• Standards and Protocols – Emerging guidelines for grid-microgrid coordination make integration smoother and more reliable.

• Power Control Systems – Software-defined switches enable real-time flexibility for both utilities and customers.

• Affordable, Reliable Distributed Generation – Innovations in storage and solar technologies are making DG more accessible and scalable.

The Opportunity for Mobile Microgrids

We believe there’s a time and place for every microgrid. Mobility allows microgrids to meet time-limited needs, such as:

• Supporting grid upgrades like transformer replacements or line maintenance.

• Responding to seasonal demand spikes, such as summer coincident peak charges.

• Filling gaps while waiting for permanent utility connections.

By making microgrids flexible and mobile, we empower customers to do more:

• Proactively manage reliability when utilities can’t.

• Scale and adapt as needs change, avoiding stranded investments.

• Align with the emerging grid ecosystem through coordination and collaboration.

Conclusion

New ways of generating, transporting, and using power are creating new challenges and opportunities for tapping into the electricity grid . By focusing on unit mobility, use modularity, and grid integration, we’re unlocking a new era of microgrid functionality to create a more reliable, resilient, and responsive energy system built on distributed generation.