Round-the-Clock Energy Availability: Microgrids ensure the provision of continuous power, even when disruptions such as adverse weather conditions, human mistakes, or unexpected events cause the main grid to fail. These systems prove particularly indispensable during natural disasters, offering a reliable electricity source that can be crucial for rescue and recovery efforts.

Encouraging the Shift to Renewable Resources: The reliability of traditional electricity is diminishing, prompting a global shift towards renewable sources like solar energy. However, solar power is limited in its availability only during daylight hours. Achieving round-the-clock energy provision currently requires storage capacities in the gigawatt range, which is not yet viable.

Nonetheless, storage solutions for smaller-scale operations do exist, making microgrids a practical stepping stone towards adopting renewable energy (RE) sources more broadly.

Universal Accessibility: Microgrids offer a viable energy solution in isolated areas where the main grid infrastructure is absent, providing a steady supply of electricity. Additionally, in urban settings, businesses are increasingly turning to microgrids to sustain their activities, highlighting the versatility and accessibility of these localized energy systems.

The operation of a solar microgrid begins with solar panels capturing sunlight and converting it into electricity. This direct current (DC) is then transformed into alternating current (AC) through an inverter, making it suitable for everyday use. Excess energy can either be stored in batteries for later use or fed back into the main grid, optimizing the utility of generated solar power. The decentralized nature of microgrids allows communities to have greater control over their energy supply, fostering resilience, efficiency, and sustainability.

India's electricity sector is grappling with three significant issues that need immediate resolution:

• A considerable portion of the country lacks access to uninterrupted electricity, with numerous areas still disconnected from the grid. In such regions, distributed energy resources (DERs) serve as a viable option for ensuring a dependable electricity supply.
• The instability of the grid poses a major problem. Over half of India's electricity comes from coal-fired thermal power stations, leaving the grid susceptible to disturbances like the coal shortage witnessed in 2022.
• In many parts of India, the cost of grid-supplied electricity is prohibitively high. Against this backdrop, microgrids present an effective solution, offering supplementary power to areas confronted with these challenges.

Regarding the present state of progress, solar microgrids represent a significant initial stride in creating robust and sustainable energy infrastructures. India has commendably achieved the installation of microgrid capacities amounting to several hundred megawatts of electrical energy. When it comes to off-grid power production, the cost of electricity generated by solar microgrids stands at 5 to 6 INR per kilowatt-hour, which is considerably lower compared to the 15 INR per kilowatt-hour cost tied to electricity produced using diesel generators.