A Suggested Definition for Microgrids Appropriate to the Construction of New Electricity System in China

The microgrid has the capability to achieve basic power and electricity supply-and-consumption balance inside itself, therefore is considered as a feasible, effective technology to promote the consumption of renewable energy resources, to help underdeveloped, remote communities to access to electricity, to strengthen the grid’s resilience, to help the utilities to assure the power supply service in case of extreme weather events or hazardous disasters. Surely microgrids will play an important role in the new electricity system being constructed now in China. However, though there are some definitions for microgrids already, no a clear, well-accepted definition for microgrids now available yet. This brings confuses to the sector, and even hinders the further development of the sector itself. A clear, well defined, widely accepted definition would render a clear picture of the future for the industry, and help building up a more appropriate, adaptable regulation scheme which would promote the sector’s further development. In this paper, a definition for microgrids appropriate to China’s new electricity system would be suggested after summarizing and analyzing all definitions given by China’s policies and standards, based on our understandings on microgrids, and also taking account of all definitions discussed inside this paper.