microgrid

noun

mi·​cro·​grid ˈmī-krō-ˌgrid 

variants or less commonly micro-grid

plural microgrids also micro-grids

: a small grid

The Logitech io Pen … only works when writing on special paper that's embedded with an invisible microgrid of tiny dots arranged like graph paper.

—Frank Bajak

especially : a local electrical grid (see grid sense 2a(3)) that can be connected to a larger network but that is also capable of operating independently

When the community fell dark after the storm, there remained all but one source of power: a solar microgrid operated by Casa Pueblo, an environmental nonprofit and community center.

—Greta Moran

Microgrids, with their own electricity-generating capacity, are a better bet. Most of these local grids are operated by private organisations such as military bases, industrial plants and universities, which need more dependable power …

—The Economist

The facility will be powered by a micro-grid with on-site solar panels, battery storage, auxiliary power and small vertical wind turbines …

—Delta County (Colorado) Independent

After the disaster knocked out power to much of eastern Japan, smart microgrid projects from industrial to residential changed their approach.

—Tam Harbert

Examples of microgrid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2025, West Virginia passed a bill that reduces local governments’ zoning and regulatory powers in relation to data centers and microgrids. — Rachel Mural, Fortune, 21 June 2026

Next, in the library’s rotunda, people can experience energy generation, storage and transfer in a microgrid by using the bike pedals to produce energy and light up a town. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2026

The Antares reactor is designed for use on land in support of microgrids. — Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Apr. 2026

To address economic anxieties, developers can invest in on-site microgrids, ensuring power needs do not drive up local costs. — Dr. Dick Bridy, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

micro- + grid

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above