# The market for microgrids

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2023-10-26
- Length: 44m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-10-26-the-market-for-microgrids

## Summary

Tim Hade, co-founder and chief development officer at Scale Microgrids, explains that microgrids are distributed energy resources capable of islanding, distinguishing them from simple backup generators by their ability to interact with the grid during normal operations. He identifies four key components—solar, storage, dispatchable generation, and switchgear—and highlights switchgear supply chain bottlenecks, with lead times extending to 60-70 weeks, as a major market constraint. Hade argues that while resilience is currently undervalued, making solar-plus-storage systems islandable adds only a 25-30% premium, potentially unlocking broader adoption if regulatory frameworks like the IRA's microgrid investment tax credit are sustained and standardized.

## Chapters

- [2:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-10-26-the-market-for-microgrids#t=134) Introduction: Defining Microgrids and Scale Microgrids
- [9:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-10-26-the-market-for-microgrids#t=547) Microgrid Components: Solar, Storage, Switchgear, and Dispatchable Generation
- [11:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-10-26-the-market-for-microgrids#t=682) The Switchgear Supply Chain Bottleneck and Lead Times
- [14:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-10-26-the-market-for-microgrids#t=870) Customer Archetypes and the Value of Resilience
- [21:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-10-26-the-market-for-microgrids#t=1280) Economics of Islanding: The 25-30% Premium and IRA Tax Credits
- [29:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-10-26-the-market-for-microgrids#t=1791) Dispatchable Generation: Fossil Fuels vs. Low-Carbon Alternatives
- [33:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-10-26-the-market-for-microgrids#t=2029) Standardization Efforts and Software Integration with Schneider Electric
- [37:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-10-26-the-market-for-microgrids#t=2220) Market Barriers: Soft Costs, Tax Equity, and Utility Scale Bias

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Scale Microgrids (company)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Schneider Electric (company)
- Micro Grid Flex (product)
- Canary Media (company)
- Latitude Media (company)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Powering EVs: Microgrids & DC Charging Solutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-08-19-powering-evs-microgrids-dc-charging-solutions) (Moore's Lobby)
- [213: Electricity Doesn't Act Like an Apple](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-08-31-213-electricity-doesnt-act-like-an-apple) (Embedded.fm)
- [Like a steam engine in your house](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-04-15-like-a-steam-engine-in-your-house) (The Amp Hour)
- [10x Grid Storage: How Mesh Batteries Are Revolutionizing Home Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-05-08-10x-grid-storage-how-mesh-batteries-are-revolutionizing-home-energy) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Managing Energy At The Edge: Navigating The Modern Grid With Itron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-09-05-managing-energy-at-the-edge-navigating-the-modern-grid-with-itron) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-10-26-the-market-for-microgrids. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.