Distributed Generation

Distributed Generation (DG) has an essential role to play in reducing emissions and improving security of supply because it can use relatively small, localised, sources of fuel (often renewable) to generate electricity, with or without heat. How much DG can be tolerated on each voltage level of a network and concerns about stability and intermittency are among the issues discussed in this stream.

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Interconnection and integration

Submitted by David Chapman on Tue, 2008-05-13 15:42.

The electricity distribution system was designed to deliver power from a relatively small number of generating stations to a very large number of small consumers. As such, the power flowed from top to bottom.

Now, distributed generation (DG) units are being connected at medium and low voltage levels. As penetration of DG becomes higher, the power flows become less predictable, causing problems in voltage control and power quality. These issues need to be understood as they affect the distribution system we have today as well as the grid we will have in the future.

For background information, see How the grid works.

For information about the future possibilities, see Future Grids.