Solar + Energy Storage vs Microgrid
Microgrid contains a controller that allows it to disconnect or “island” from the grid during a power outage and use its on-site power to serve its host. When the power outage ends, it can reconnect to the grid and interact with it to produce the cleanest, cheapest, and most efficient mix of energy from available resources.
VPP vs Microgrid
Microgrid is itself a small grid and a VPP is not
Community solar vs Microgrid
The subscribers don’t receive solar energy directly from the plant — there isn’t a physical connection. Instead, they receive solar credits. It’s a good approach for people who want to support clean energy but can’t install solar panels on their roofs, perhaps because they lack the space or are renters.
Community solar project can be part of a community microgrid
Most importantly, a microgrid provides power to its host when the grid is down, while a community solar project does not.
DERMS (Distributed energy resources management system) vs Microgrid
DERMS is a software platform, often used by utilities, to see and organize the many DERs now connecting to the grid. A microgrid, meanwhile, manages its own internal DERs. DERMS do not island from the grid or provide power to hosts during a power outage — something microgrids can do
