Katie Erickson and Greg Mooney live off-grid in British Columbia, Canada. Their 2,100 watt solar energy system runs a small freezer, fridge, washing machine and laptops; in winter, they have a small gas generator as backup. Institutions and communities, too, are installing miniature power grids -- known as "islanding". Fairfield, Connecticut, hit hard by Hurricane Irene in 2011, now has a microgrid, including a gas generator and solar panels, which can power the police and fire headquarters, a homeless shelter, emergency communications center and a mobile phone mast. When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, US firm BoxPower provided a solar panel and microgrid solution that restored electricity supplies at two schools and a community center. It still functions today. BoxPower also has set up standalone grid systems for some remote communities in California.

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