简介：Microgridsarelocalpowersystemsthatmayormaynotbeconnectedtothedistributionsystemandaretypicallycontrolledbythelocaloperator.Interestinmicrogridsisrisinganditislikelythatthenumberofmicrogridsconnectedtodistributionnetworkswillincrease.Currently,thereisnoconsensusonhowmicrogridswillinteractwiththedistributionsystem―theyhavethepotentialtothreatenstability,ortoassist.Howevermicrogrids,withtheiremphasisonsophisticatedcontrolinordertomanagetheirparticularchallenges,addressmanyoftheproblemsthatwillberequiredtoovercomeinrealizingthesmartgrid.Thispaperexaminessomeoftheissuesinvolvedinconnectingmicrogridstothedistributionnetworks,andillustrateshowmicrogridshaveakeyroletoplayinthedevelopmentofthesmartgrid.