What is power islanding?

Power islanding is a phenomenon where a portion of an electric power grid is disconnected from the main grid but continues to produce power for itself. This happens when there is a fault or a disruption in the main grid, causing a power outage. However, an isolated section of the grid may continue to receive power from local generators or renewable energy sources that are not affected by the main grid failure.

This can be dangerous as it can cause damage to devices connected to the grid due to fluctuations in the power supply. It can also be a major challenge for utilities and emergency responders to identify and disconnect the islanded portion from the main grid, as the power coming from the islanded grid can also harm utility workers trying to restore power.

Power islanding can be prevented by installing anti-islanding protection features that detect grid faults and shutdown any local generators or renewable energy sources. These protection features help to ensure that any energy generated in an islanded section is not sent back to the main grid.