Popular Science: EcoBlock co-PI and UC Berkeley professor Dan Kammen discusses the growing ubiquity of community microgrids in a recent Popular Science article published on April 13, 2022. As renewable energy becomes more affordable and accessible, Kammen notes that microgrids—especially ones powered by solar—are gaining traction throughout the U.S. “We used to think that microgrids were off-grid, rural areas, but increasingly they’re urban areas, cities,” Kammen says. “Solar is certainly the most common just because it’s so easy. With solar and batteries you can do basically everything a utility does.”
A Fruitvale Microgrid Could Inspire Resiliency if Approved
The future of renewable energy may lie in microgrids—but what does it actually take to implement one? From navigating utility regulations to weathering the effects of COVID-19, the EcoBlock research team reflects on the complexities of executing the pilot microgrid project.