What does the term "islanding" refer to in electrical grids?

The term "islanding" specifically refers to a situation where a portion of the electrical grid becomes isolated from the main grid while still continuing to operate independently. This can occur due to various reasons, such as a fault in the grid or during intentional disconnection for maintenance. The isolated section, or "island," may still have its own local generation and load balancing, allowing it to function without support from the rest of the grid.

Understanding islanding is important for grid stability and safety, as it can lead to challenges in maintaining power quality and reliability. Additionally, if islanding occurs unintentionally, it can pose risks such as overvoltage or operational instability if not managed properly.

The other options describe different concepts related to electrical grids but do not accurately define what islanding is. For example, exceeding generation refers to a situation of power management, while energy storage and voltage stabilization are techniques used to maintain grid functionality rather than defining islanding itself.