Distributed Power Generation

Distributed Power Generation = an energy system (mainly) based on interconnected little and medium size power generators and/or renewable energy plants

(can also be understood as home production of solar energy)

Definition by Ezio Manzini at http://sustainable-everyday.net/manzini/?p=9

Description

Ezio Manzini:

"distributed power generation: This expression usually refers to an energy system (mainly) based on interconnected little and medium size power generators and/or renewable energy plants. Its implications is a radical change in the dominant idea of electrical system. But not only: there is the possibility of a new relationship between communities and their technological assets and, possibly, a more democratic way of managing the energy system.

Today, even if it is not yet the main stream strategy, the option of the distributed generation is largely recognized as a very promising one and its implementation has been enhanced in several different contexts, both in dense urban spaces and in the country side, in the North and in the south of the world. The distributed power option has been made possible thanks to the convergence of several factors as: the existence of highly effective little and medium size power generators and the possibility to base the new energy systems on an intelligent information network." (http://sustainable-everyday.net/manzini/?p=9)

New Rules website:

"In the early 20th century electricity generation and transmission technologies supported the idea that "big is better." As a result, regulatory rules encouraged the construction of centralized power plants and long distribution lines. In the 1990s the technological dynamic was reversed. Small power plants located closer to the customer were become increasingly competitive. This has occurred at the same time as most states, many cities, and the U.S. Congress are rewriting the rules that govern our electricity system. The challenge now is to write rules (i.e. codes, standards, regulations, statutes) that will encourage electricity customers to also become electricity producers." (http://www.newrules.org/electricity/producers.html)

Policy Implications

"In the era of electric deregulation customers have the ability to choose their electric supplier. But early indications are that the vast majority of consumers will choose not to choose. Who, then, should be their default supplier? In most states the incumbent utility has been given this huge pot of customers--only Massachusetts and Ohio have thus far decided that it should be the town or city who is responsible for serving these customers.

Community choice, or aggregation, will create community pools of electricity large enough to command leverage on the market, and with sufficient legal authority and financial flexibility to demand contracts from energy suppliers that satisfy local economic and environmental goals. In short, it places authority in the hands of those who will feel the impact of their decisions, making investment in renewable electricity much more likely." (http://www.newrules.org/electricity/default.html)

More Information

When consumers become producers, at http://www.newrules.org/electricity/producers.html . This site monitors regulatory progress in the U.S.

Local and regional plans update, at http://www.newrules.org/electricity/planningfordg.html

See our entry on the P2P Energy Grid