Distributed generation for residential and small commercial markets
- Battelle, Columbus, OH (United States)
Distributed generation offers two basic values: economics and the availability of standby power during grid outages. The first, economics, is related to the ability to generate electricity at or near the point of use and deliver it to the customer at lower cost than is possible through the grid. One way to do this is to take advantage of highly efficient cogeneration made possible by locating the generator near load centers. Another is to relieve grid congestion during high demand periods by operating behind power bottlenecks. Finally, distributed generators may offer the potential to achieve low installed cost with mass produced, small-scale, but highly efficient generators yielding low cost power. To realize the second value, standby power, a generator must be capable of grid independent operation. This requires black start capability and self-excitation of the generator. Since a distributed generator would seldom be sized to carry the entire site peak load, it also requires a transfer switch that allows selected critical circuits to be switched to the generator during standby operation such that they do not exceed the generator`s capability. This paper describes a particular approach to applying distributed generation in the residential marketplace. Small commercial establishments (such as small offices serving accountants, doctors, insurance agents etc.) are also included in that they closely resemble residential customers in extent and patterns of energy use.
- Research Organization:
- Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago, IL (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 697209
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-990410-PROC.-Vol.1; TRN: IM9946%%595
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 61. American power conference annual meeting, Chicago, IL (United States), 6-8 Apr 1999; Other Information: PBD: 1999; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the American power conference: Volume 61-1; McBride, A.E. [ed.]; PB: 540 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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