Distributed generation: It's all a matter of control

摘要

The total is often greater than the sum of its parts, and perhaps no better example exists in today's electric power business than distributed generation. Distributed power sources range from gen-sets with outputs of less than 100 kW, to turbines rated at a few MW -mere ants compared to the behemoths that make up the vast bulk of the generating fleet Yet tiny ants working as a highly orchestrated unit constitute a powerful force of nature. So it is with DG. Increasingly sophisticated technology and an evolving DG support industry, allow distributed energy assets dispersed across states, continents, or even globally, to be far more valuable to their owners than was possible a decade ago. The ability to aggregate, dispatch and monitor such assets with strategic precision can mean millions of dollars in cost savings for those able to perform those tasks well. Because up to 40 percent of a commercial customer's energy bills can consist of demand charges, DG owners are learning that energy is not a fixed cost over which they have little control. Rather, managing energy is a significant money-saving opportunity that can boost profits and possibly increase shareholder value. Most important of all, they're learning it's not how much energy they use but rather when they use it that counts.