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Distributed power generators—small, modular electricity generators sited close to customer loads—offer advantages that large-scale, capital-intensive, central-station power plants cannot provide.
By siting smaller, more fuel-flexible systems near energy consumers, distributed generation avoids transmission and distribution power losses and provides a choice of energy systems to the utility customer. Many distributed power systems produce so little noise or emissions that they can be located inside, or immediately adjacent to, the buildings where the power is needed. This greatly simplifies the problems of bringing power to expanding commercial, residential, and industrial areas.
Distributed energy systems offer reliability for U.S. businesses and consumers who need dependable, high-quality power to run sensitive digital equipment and can provide alternative, less-expensive power sources during peak price periods. The potential market for providing power during peak price periods is as high as 460 GW, according to a DOE study.
Distributed power generation technologies use a variety of fuels, including natural gas, diesel, biomass-derived fuels, fuel oil, propane, hydrogen, sunlight, and wind.
Pursue the following links to learn more about the distributed power systems in research and development at the U.S. Department of Energy:
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