California is a pioneer in energy system innovations, and it is not surprising that the state is leading the nation in the adoption of microgrids. However, the inherent characteristics of microgrids make them challenging to integrate and operate within the current energy system. This is mainly because unlike other decentralized energy systems, microgrids often tend to interact with the centralized grid infrastructure as both a parallel and a competing distribution grid model at the micro scale. The adoption and integration of microgrids, therefore, represents a socio-technical transition in the electric power sector. In this context, this study relies on the Multi-Level Perspective framework to examine the drivers, contexts, processes, and policies that have enabled an ongoing transition in California's electricity system that has allowed adoption of microgrids. The analysis shows that even though several drivers carry weight, including resilience concerns and market factors, California's pathway to microgrids is largely driven by the legislative and regulatory push toward clean energy and a symbiotic relationship between powerful regime actors and a microgrid niche. This is enabling a transformation in the state's energy system, in which the entry of microgrids is subtly facilitated by the regime in a way that does not threaten the current utility-dominated electricity system. By providing a detailed account of how a decentralized energy system that challenges the centralized grid regime has made its place in the centralized grid regime in California, this paper identifies the key facets that affect the integration of microgrids in the broader context of energy transitions.

加州是能源系统创新的先驱，因此，加州在采用微电网方面处于领先地位也就不足为奇了。但是，微电网的固有特性使其在现有能源系统中集成和运行具有挑战性。这主要是因为与其他分散式能源系统不同，微电网通常倾向于与集中式电网基础设施进行交互，因为它既是并行的又是竞争性的微观分布式电网模型。因此，微电网的采用和集成代表了电力行业的社会技术转型。在这种情况下，本研究依赖于多层次视角框架来研究促成加利福尼亚州持续转型的驱动因素，背景，流程和政策。允许采用微电网的电力系统。分析表明，尽管有几个驱动因素在发挥作用，包括对抵御能力的担忧和市场因素，但加州通往微电网的道路很大程度上是由立法和法规推动的清洁能源驱动，以及强大的政权参与者与微电网利基之间的共生关系。这使得该州的能源系统发生了转变，该体制巧妙地促进了微电网的进入，而不会威胁到当前以公用事业为主导的电力系统。通过详细说明挑战集中式电网体制的分散式能源系统如何在加利福尼亚州的集中式电网体制中占据一席之地，