One of the biggest changes coming to the power grid are microgrids. Pike Research has a report on microgrids.

More than 2,000 Microgrids to be Deployed by 2015

January 26, 2010

Microgrids, which are “islanded” power generation and distribution zones that can operate autonomously from the larger electrical grid, are an increasing area of focus for institutions, governments, corporations, and utilities. According to a recent report fromPike Research, a variety of trends are converging to create significant growth potential for microgrids, and the cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that more than 2,000 sites will be operational worldwide by 2015, up from fewer than 100 in 2010.

“The distinguishing feature of a microgrid is the ability to separate and isolate itself from the utility’s distribution system during brownouts and blackouts,” says managing director Clint Wheelock. “This degree of localized control is compelling for many microgrid proponents during this time of increasing concern over grid reliability.”

Out of the 2,000, one microgrid will be at the Ewing Industrial Park in Columbia, MO, the site where the Open Source Data Center Initiative ideas will be tested.

There is a lot of information in the report which you can buy here.

Key questions addressed:

What is a “microgrid” and what are its key components and features?

Why are inverters the key advance enabling microgrids to develop today despite opposition from many electric utilities?

What are the key market drivers at the policy level – and why does the United States have the best near-term market opportunity?

Why are microgrids inevitable if investments in a smart grid are accompanied by a paradigm shift from central station to distributed generation supply sources?

Who are the big players – and new technology vendors – in the microgrid space, and what is their key role in developing this new energy market?

Who needs this report?

Microgrid Developers

Smart Grid Hardware and Software Providers

Venture Capitalists

Communities, institutions, and corporations interested in building their own microgrid

Distribution Utilities worried about worker safety and market share issues

Policy Makers examining new business models for renewable generation

Even though we could buy a copy of the report. Our first preference is to develop things from scratch with an open source approach, then publish the results. I would assume if we bought a copy of the report, we can't republish anything from it. And, any ideas we come up with potentially could be limited given we bought a research publication.

Which means we most likely will not be buying any other research as it would limit our ability to publish.