Microgrids are subsets of the regional electrical grid that have the ability to operate independently from the local utility. While the investment for microgrids can be significant, it is important to understand the payback and benefits that make them worth the cost for certain organizations such as universities and data centers. Paul Barter and Princeton University’s Edward T. Borer define microgrids, discuss where they can best be implemented, identify which organizations govern their design, and define the criteria for best-in-class microgrids in Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s "Implementing microgrids: Controlling campus, community power generation."
Along with their article, Barter and Borer have provided a case study of Princeton University’s microgrid.