Energy > Microgrids > Microgrid OEMs
Microgrid OEMs
Microgrids are not a single product category but a system-of-systems assembled from DER (Distributed Energy Resources), power distribution and protection, controls, and integration services. As a result, the microgrid ecosystem spans turnkey OEM platforms, controller and protection specialists, EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) integrators, developer-operators, and DER equipment suppliers. This page maps major players by role and provides an OEM-centric reference view suitable for procurement and architecture planning.
Microgrid OEMs and Integrators
This table groups companies by the role they most commonly play in real-world microgrid deployments. Large projects typically involve multiple categories.
| Player category | What they provide | Typical scope in a microgrid | Representative players | Best-fit use cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnkey microgrid OEM platforms | Integrated electrical hardware, controller, and EMS (Energy Management System) | Distribution, protection, islanding, DER dispatch, monitoring | Schneider Electric; Siemens; ABB; GE Vernova; Eaton | Repeatable designs, campuses, industrial sites, fast deployment |
| Controller and protection specialists | Grid-forming control, relay protection, fast switching | Microgrid controller, protection coordination, black start | Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL); S&C Electric | Custom microgrids, utility-grade reliability |
| EPCs and system integrators | Engineering, construction, commissioning | Interconnection studies, multi-vendor integration | Black & Veatch; Burns & McDonnell; Jacobs; WSP | Data centers, factories, regulated environments |
| Developers and operators | Finance, build, operate, long-term service | Microgrid-as-a-Service, O&M, resilience contracts | Enchanted Rock; Ameresco; ENGIE | Resilience-first C&I sites, municipalities |
| BESS OEMs and integrators | Battery Energy Storage Systems | Peak shaving, islanding support, fast response | Tesla; Fluence; Wärtsilä; BYD; CATL | FEDs, EV depots, renewables-heavy sites |
| Dispatchable generation OEMs | Firm generation for extended outages | Gensets, engines, CHP, fuel cells | Caterpillar; Cummins; Bloom Energy; Mainspring Energy | Mission-critical and weak-grid sites |
Microgrid Architecture Patterns
These architecture patterns describe common implementation approaches. Real deployments often combine more than one pattern.
| Architecture pattern | Typical scale | Primary objective | Typical DER mix | Control emphasis | Where it wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FED microgrid (depot-scale) | ~0.5 MW to 20+ MW | Charging uptime and demand control | BESS + grid; optional solar; optional genset | Fast dispatch, power quality, selective islanding | Fleet Energy Depots with high-power EVSE |
| Grid-parallel optimization | ~0.1 MW to 50+ MW | Cost reduction | BESS and/or solar | Scheduling and telemetry | Sites prioritizing economics over resilience |
| Resilience microgrid | ~1 MW to 100+ MW | Critical-load continuity | BESS + dispatchable generation | Protection coordination and black start | Hospitals, data centers, factories |
| Renewables-forward microgrid | ~0.5 MW to 200+ MW | High renewable penetration | Solar + BESS; optional firming gen | Inverter coordination and stability | Campuses and sustainability-driven sites |
| CHP-led industrial microgrid | ~5 MW to 200+ MW | Efficiency and uptime | CHP + optional BESS | Thermal-electric coordination | Industrial and district energy sites |
Microgrid OEMs (A–Z)
This OEM-centric table lists major microgrid OEMs, designers, builders, and integrators alphabetically and summarizes how each typically appears in deployments.
| Company | Primary role | Microgrid layer focus | Typical deployments | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABB | Turnkey OEM | Distribution, protection, controls | Industrial and campus microgrids | Strong utility-grade automation heritage |
| Ameresco | Developer / operator | Finance, integration, O&M | Municipal and federal sites | Energy services–led approach |
| Black & Veatch | EPC / integrator | Engineering and integration | Large C&I and data centers | Vendor-agnostic designs |
| Bloom Energy | Generation OEM | Fuel cells | Resilience-focused sites | Low-emissions firm power |
| Burns & McDonnell | EPC / integrator | Design-build | Industrial and mission-critical | Strong U.S. footprint |
| Caterpillar | Generation OEM | Gensets, hybrid plants | Industrial and remote microgrids | Global service network |
| Cummins | Generation OEM | Gensets and controls | C&I resilience sites | Often bundled with controls |
| Eaton | Turnkey OEM | Distribution and controls | Commercial and industrial | Strong LV/MV portfolio |
| Enchanted Rock | Developer / operator | Resilience microgrids | Retail, data centers, logistics | Natural-gas-led resilience model |
| ENGIE | Developer / operator | Energy services and DER | Campuses and municipalities | Global energy player |
| Fluence | BESS OEM / integrator | Battery storage systems | Grid-scale and C&I | Utility-scale experience |
| GE Vernova | Turnkey OEM | Grid and microgrid systems | Industrial and utility-adjacent | Grid heritage and controls |
| Mainspring Energy | Generation OEM | Linear generators | Resilience-focused C&I | Emerging dispatchable option |
| Schneider Electric | Turnkey OEM | EMS, controls, distribution | Campus and industrial microgrids | Strong software + hardware integration |
| SEL (Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories) | Controls / protection | Relays and automation | Utility-grade microgrids | Protection-first architectures |
| Siemens | Turnkey OEM | Grid automation and controls | Industrial and campus sites | Strong digital grid stack |
| S&C Electric | Controls / protection | Switching and automation | Distribution-heavy microgrids | Fast isolation and switching |
| Tesla | BESS OEM | Megablock*;Megapack storage | FEDs and fast-deploy sites | High deployment velocity |
| Wärtsilä | BESS and generation OEM | Hybrid power plants | Large microgrids | Strong hybrid optimization |
* Tesla Megablock is a high-power, MV-connected energy block optimized for virtual grid capacity, fast EV charging support, and minimum viable microgrid deployments, serving as a power foundation (and as a minimal-viable microgrid for specific use cases).
