What are distributed energy resources?

Distributed energy resources, or DER, are small-scale energy systems that power a nearby location. DER can be connected to electric grids or isolated, with energy flowing only to specific sites or functions. DER include both energy generation technologies and energy storage systems.

What are some examples of distributed energy sources?

Some examples of distributed energy sources include: Distributed energy resources can be physical resources that are owned privately or by electric utilities, or they can be virtual assets composed of many physical DERs aggregated together as a single power source.

How do distributed energy resources generate power?

Distributed energy resources generate power no different than a large, utility-scale power plant. After all, the role of a power grid operator is to ensure that electricity generation matches demand at all times. So, all electricity is created equal.

What is distributed energy generation?

When energy generation occurs through distributed energy resources, it’s referred to as distributed generation. While DER systems use a variety of energy sources, they’re often associated with renewable energy technologies such as rooftop solar panels and small wind turbines.

What is energy storage?

Energy storage is the capturing and holding of energy in reserve for later use. Examples of energy storage technologies used as distributed energy resources include: Battery storage is the most common form of electricity storage.

What is the difference between distributed energy resources and dispersed generation?

The difference between distributed energy resources and dispersed generation has to do with the electrical output of the system. DERs are assets that typically produce less than 10 MW, or 10,000 kilowatts (kW), while dispersed generation are assets that operate on a smaller scale, less than 500 kW.