Modular power grid

A grid control node, comprising:

• a first connector to connect to a power grid at a first point of common coupling (PCC) and having a first microinverter to generate reactive power on a consumer side of the first PCC for devices downstream from the first PCC, the reactive power to provide for reactive power demand downstream from the first PCC;
• a second connector to couple to a first grid segment through a second PCC downstream from the first PCC, the second connector to couple to a second control node through the second PCC, the second control node having a second microinverter to generate power on a consumer side of the second PCC, the first grid segment including consumer premises, at least some of which have local energy generation and including a first neighborhood power source capable of meeting peak power demand of at least multiple of the consumer premises of the first grid segment and lacking sufficient generation capacity to meet peak power demand of all consumer premises of the first grid segment, the first neighborhood power source being dispatchable, with its generation operation controlled by dispatch information by grid system management;
• and
• a third connector to couple to a second grid segment through a third PCC separate from the second PCC, the third PCC downstream from the first PCC, the third connector to couple to a third control node through the third PCC, the third control node having a third microinverter to generate power on a consumer side of the third PCC;
• a controller to cause the first microinverter to generate a current-based output current to control power distribution from the second grid segment to the first grid segment via the first PCC when the first grid segment has peak power demand greater than the first neighborhood power source can satisfy.

A method for controlling a power grid, comprising:

• monitoring, at a first control node coupled to a first point of common coupling (PCC), first power demand and first power generation of a first grid segment downstream from the first PCC, the first control node having a first microinverter to generate power on a consumer side of the first PCC, the first grid segment including consumer premises, at least some of which have local energy generation and including a first neighborhood power source capable of meeting peak power demand of at least multiple of the consumer premises of the first grid segment and lacking sufficient generation capacity to meet peak power demand of all consumer premises of the first grid segment, the first neighborhood power source being dispatchable, with its generation operation controlled by dispatch information by grid system management;
• monitoring, at a second control node coupled to a second PCC, second power demand and second power generation of a second grid segment downstream from the second PCC, the second control node having a second microinverter to generate power on a consumer side of the second PCC;
• monitoring, at a third control node coupled to a third PCC, the first power demand, the first power generation, the second power demand, and the second power generation, wherein the first PCC and the second PCC are downstream from, and couple to, the third PCC;
• and
• controlling, with a third microinverter of the third control node, power distribution by generating a current-based output current from the second grid segment to the first grid segment when the first grid segment has peak power demand greater than the first neighborhood power source can satisfy.