Under　the　carbon　neutrality　goal,　the　projects　to　develop　zero-carbon　microgrids　are　emerging　all　over　the　world.　However,　the　categories,　trends,　challenges,　and　future　research　prospects　of　the　zero-carbon　microgrid　are　still　unclear.　To　deal　with　this　problem,　this　research　first　reviews　the　real-world　and　simulation　cases　of　zero-carbon　microgrids　in　recent　years　and　classifies　them　into　two　categories,　i.e.,　on-grid　mode　and　off-grid　mode.　Then,　three　development　trends　of　the　zero-carbon　microgrid　are　discussed,　including　an　extremely　high　ratio　of　clean　energy,　large-scale　energy　storage,　and　an　extremely　high　ratio　of　power　electronic　devices.　Next,　the　challenges　in　achieving　the　zero-carbon　microgrids　in　terms　of　feasibility,　flexibility,　and　stability　are　discussed　in　detail.　Finally,　future　research　prospects　in　long-term　low-cost　energy　storage,　power/energy　balancing,　and　stability　control,　are　emphasized.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd