microgrids

Investments in microgrid technology are accelerating as companies race to scale artificial intelligence, with AI data centers requiring vast amounts of reliable electricity that traditional grids struggle to supply. Reuters reports the AI scaling race is pushing energy firms and tech companies toward microgrids as a solution for secure, on-site power generation.

A newly released book examines how remote Alaskan communities became leaders in microgrid adoption, developing innovative local power systems out of necessity to cope with extreme weather, isolation and unreliable outside energy supplies. Coverage highlights the state's role as a testing ground for decentralized energy, with Alaska's microgrids increasingly cited as models for other remote regions pursuing energy independence.

Siemens has unveiled a microgrid at its North Carolina headquarters. The project, reported by Solar Builder, showcases the company's own distributed energy technology combining on-site power generation with grid controls. It serves as a demonstration of Siemens' microgrid capabilities for commercial customers, underlining the growing industry focus on energy resilience and self-sufficient power systems at corporate facilities.

Le Monde's Chaleur humaine column examines how a neighbourhood can be supplied with electricity 'in a short circuit', using microgrids that combine local renewable generation and storage. The explainer walks through how such small, local networks operate alongside the main grid, and what they mean for the shift to renewables and more decentralised power supply.