DR R Meenakumari, Professor and Head, EEE, KEC

Distributed
Generation
Dr R Meenakumari, Professor and Head, EEE,KEC
OUTLINE of the lecture

Introduction to DG
Benefits of DG
Energy scenario in Gujarat
Microgrid
INTRODUCTION
Distributed generation is an approach that employs small-scale
technologies to produce electricity close to the end users of power.

DG technologies often consist of modular (and sometimes
renewable-energy) generators, and they offer a number of potential

benefits.
In many cases, distributed generators can provide lower-cost
electricity, higher power reliability and security with fewer

environmental consequences than the traditional power generators.
Contd..
DG systems employ numerous, but small plants and can provide
power onsite with little reliance on the distribution and transmission

grid.
DG technologies yield power in capacities that range from a fraction
of a kilowatt [kW] to about 100 megawatts [MW].

Utility-scale generation units generate power in capacities that often
reach beyond 1,000 MW.
Contd..
If only the electrical power from DER is used, then the technology is
called Distributed Generation (DG).

If, in addition to the electrical power, the thermal exhaust from the
generation process is used for other processes in the building (such as

boilers or chillers) then it is called Combined Heat and Power (CHP), or
cogeneration.
These energy sources can include
Micro turbines
Fuel cells
Contd..
Wind power
Solar power and
Several forms of energy storage.
DG A DIGRAMMATIC VIEW
WHY A SUDDEN TRANSITION TO DG?

The current model for electricity generation and distribution in the India
is dominated by centralized power plants.

The power at these plants is typically combustion (coal, oil, and natural)
or nuclear generated.
Centralized power models, like this, require distribution from the center to
outlying consumers.
Current substations can be anywhere from 10s to 100s of miles away from
the actual users of the power generated.

This requires transmission across the distance.
Contd..
This system of centralized power plants has many disadvantages:
Transmission distance issues
Greenhouse gas emission
The production of nuclear waste
Inefficiencies and power loss over the lengthy transmission lines
Environmental distribution where the power lines are constructed
Security related issues
DE-MERITS IN TRADITIONAL ELECTRIC

POWER SYSTEM
The transmission of electricity from a power plant to a typical user
wastes roughly 4.2 to 8.9 % of the electricity as a

consequence of aging of transmission equipment,
inconsistent enforcement of reliability guidelines, and
growing congestion.
At the same time, customers often suffer from

poor power quality
variations in voltage or electrical flow leads to voltage dips,
interruptions, transients, and network disturbances from loads.
TRADITIONAL vs DG
EXAMPLES OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION

TECHNOLOGIES
Distributed generation takes place on two-levels:
1. the local level

2. the end-point level.
Local level power generation plants often include renewable energy technologies
that are site specific, such as wind turbines, geothermal energy production, solar
systems (photovoltaic and combustion), and some hydro-thermal plants.
These plants tend to be smaller and less centralized than the traditional model
plants.
They also are frequently more energy and cost efficient and more reliable.
Contd..
At the end-point level, the individual energy consumer can apply many of these
same technologies with similar effects.

One DG technology frequently employed by end-point users is the modular
internal combustion engine.

These modular internal combustion engines can also be used to backup RVs and
homes.
As many of these familiar examples show DG technologies can operate as
isolated "islands" of electric energy production or they can serve as small

contributors to the power grid.
TYPES OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES

DG is also referred to as dispersed generation or embedded generation.
It includes both non-renewable and renewable.
(a) Non-Renewable
1. Internal combustion engine fuelled by diesel
2. Internal combustion engine fuelled by natural gas
3. Micro-turbine fuelled by natural gas
4. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell with reformer fuelled
by natural gas
Contd..
(b) Renewable
1. Wind turbine
2. Solar photovoltaic (PV)
3. Biomass gasifier connected to a spark ignition engine(dedicated
gas engine)
4. Bagasse cogeneration in sugar factories
Solar Energy
One popular source is solar panels on the roofs of buildings.
The daily average solar insolation incident over India varies from 4 to
7kWh/m2 depending on the location.

Most regions in the country get about 300 clear sunny days a year.
A solar PV system converts the incident solar radiation directly into
electricity using silicon based solar cells.

For the modules available, the efficiencies range between 1015%.
In PV systems the capacity factor is decided by the insolation
characteristics at the site with a maximum capacity factor of 25%.
Contd..
The advantage of PV is ease of operation and negligible operating
cost.
The production cost is $0.99 to 2.00/W (2007) plus installation and
supporting equipment .
This is comparable to coal power plant costs of $0.582 to 0.906/W
Wind Energy
Another source is small wind turbines.
These have low maintenance, and low pollution.
Construction costs are higher ($0.80/W, 2007) per watt than large
power plants, except in very windy areas.

Wind towers and generators have substantial insurable liabilities
caused by high winds, but good operating safety.

Wind also tends to be complementary to solar; on days there is no
sun there tends to be wind and vice versa.
Contd..
Many distributed generation sites combine wind power and solar
power.
A potential site is considered viable in case the average winds speeds
at a height of 50m is above 200W/sq.m.

Wind speeds are high during the monsoon months (June to August)
with relatively weak winds during the rest of the year.

The viability of wind is critically dependent on the capacity factor
that is site specific.
Biogas
Fuelwood, agricultural residues (rice husk, sugarcane trash, coconut
shells...) and animal waste are the main biomass fuels available in
India.
The advantage of biomass fuels is that they are available throughout the
country.
Biomass (fuelwood, crop residues and cattle dung) accounts for about
40% of Indias primary energy use.

The options for conversion of biomass into electricity are combustion,
gasification, IGCC, pyrolysis.
FUTURE VIEW OF A POWER SYSTEM
POTENTIAL BENEFIT QUALITY OF

POWER
DG proponents highlight the inefficiency of the existing large-scale
electrical transmission and distribution network.

The use of on-site power equipment can conceivably provide
consumers with affordable power at a higher level of quality.

DGs at homes or industries have the potential to sell surplus power
to the grid, which can yield significant income during times of peak
demand.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS UNINTERRUPTED

POWER
DG technologies may provide more reliable power for industries that
require uninterrupted service.

Power outages and quality disturbances cost American businesses $119
billion per year.

International Energy Agency (2002) estimated that the average cost of a
one-hour power outage was $6,480,000 for brokerage operations and

$2,580,000 for credit card operations.
Thats why, several firms have already installed DG facilities to ensure
consistent power supplies.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS ENVIRONMENTAL

CONCERN
Environmentalists and academics suggest that DG technologies can
provide ancillary benefits to society.

Large, centralized power plants emit significant amounts of carbon
monoxide, sulfur oxides, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and

nitrogen can be reduced significantly by installing DGs.
The Environmental Protection Agency has long noted the correlation
between high levels of sulfur oxide emissions and the creation of

acid rain.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS REDUCED

EMISSION OF TOXIC GASES
Recent studies have confirmed use of DG technologies substantially
reduces emissions.
A British analysis estimated that domestic combined heat and power
technologies reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 41% .

A similar report on the Danish power system observed that
widespread use of DG technologies have cut emissions by 30%

DG can help the nation increase its diversity of energy sources.
Contd..
Some of the DG technologies, such as wind turbines, solar
photovoltaic panels, and hydroelectric turbines, consume no fossil

fuels.
While others, such as fuel cells, microturbines, and some internal
combustion units burn natural gas, much of which is produced in the

United States.
The increasing diversity helps insulate the economy from price
shocks, interruptions, and fuel shortages.
Contd..
As DG technologies remain independent of the grid, they can
provide emergency power for :

1. hospitals, schools, airports, fire and
2. police stations, military bases, prisons, water supply and
3. sewage treatment plants, natural gas transmission and
4. distribution systems, and communications stations.
BENEFITS
BENEFITS
RENEWABLE ENERGY
SCENARIO IN GUJARAT
PURCHASE FROM RENEWABLE

ENERGY RESOURCES IN GUJARAT
Renewable Power Potential - Gujarat
Solar PV Lighting
Systems
5000 Solar Home Light

1000 Solar Lantern
2000 Solar Street Light
Solar Power Pack
Solar Rooftop Power Syst
About 265 X 1 kW Stand-alone SPV

power systems installed.
34 Grid-connected rooftop Solar PV
Systems (2350 kW) have been
installed on Govt Buildings in Gujarat
last year.
Solar Power Plants in Gujarat
30 plants totaling to about 600 MW

capacity have been commissioned in
Gujarat in year 2011-12. They would
be generating 900 MU
Wind Solar Hybrid Power System
Wind Turbines
Wind Speed 2 to 5 m/s
Gujarat has the second

largest Wind Power Plant
installed capacity in the
country which is about
2625 MW . Annually
WINDFARMS
generating about 4400
Gujarat
million units of
electricity.
Potential: 12000 MW
Installed Capacity: 2625 MW
tildate
Cost: Rs. 5-6 crore
Bio Energy
Systems
BIOGAS PLANT
1500 cubic mt/day added
21000 cubic mt/day added
BIOMASS GASIFIER
PLANT
RE Power Purchase Policy

Wind Energy Rs. 3:56 per unit
Solar Energy Rs. 15 per unit (first 12
years)
Solar Energy Rs. 5 per unit (next 13
years)
New
Bio Solar
Energy
Rs. 4.40
per unit
PP Policy
(29-Jan-2012)
Solar Energy
Rs. 9.98 per unit (first 12
years)
Solar Energy
years)
Rs.
7 per unit (next 13
Total Installed Capacity of

RE Systems in Gujarat
1000 MW
approximately
BARRIERS & BOTTLENECKS

Solar power, wind power, and biomass, are inherently renewable in
nature.
Predicting the amount of power that will be available at certain times
of the day often becomes difficult.
The profitability relies on an accurate wind power forecast.
Inaccurate forecasts can also result in disruption of unit commitment
decisions.
High initial cost and replacement of costly batteries in off-grid
systems
Sense of ownership poor maintenance.
Lack of user awareness & training.
Poor after sales service network.
MICROGRID
A microgrid is a localized grouping of electricity generation, energy
storage, and loads that normally operates connected to a traditional

centralized grid (macrogrid).
This single point of common coupling with the macrogrid can be
disconnected. The microgrid can then function autonomously.

Generation and loads in a microgrid are usually interconnected at low
voltage.
From the point of view of the grid operator, a connected microgrid can be
controlled as if it was one entity.
MICRO GRID
Contd..
Microgrid generation resources can include fuel cells, wind, solar, or
other energy sources.

The multiple dispersed generation sources and ability to isolate the
microgrid from a larger network would provide highly reliable

electric power.
Byproduct heat from generation sources such as microturbines could
be used for local process heating or space heating, allowing flexible

trade off between the needs for heat and electric power.
Contd..
Micro-grids were proposed in the wake of the July 2012 India
blackout.
Small micro-grids covering 3050 km radius.
Small power stations of 510 MW to serve the micro-grids
Generate power locally to reduce dependence on long distance
transmission lines and cut transmission losses.
Thank You
for Your Attention

DR R Meenakumari, Professor and Head, EEE, KEC

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What are the potential benefits of distributed generation?

What are the potential benefits of distributed generation?

What are some examples of distributed generation technologies mentioned?

What are some examples of distributed generation technologies mentioned?

Distributed

Dr R Meenakumari, Professor and Head, EEE,KEC

OUTLINE of the lecture

technologies to produce electricity close to the end users of power.

renewable-energy) generators, and they offer a number of potential

electricity, higher power reliability and security with fewer

power onsite with little reliance on the distribution and transmission

of a kilowatt [kW] to about 100 megawatts [MW].

reach beyond 1,000 MW.

called Distributed Generation (DG).

generation process is used for other processes in the building (such as

Solar power and

Several forms of energy storage.

WHY A SUDDEN TRANSITION TO DG?

is dominated by centralized power plants.

the actual users of the power generated.

DE-MERITS IN TRADITIONAL ELECTRIC

wastes roughly 4.2 to 8.9 % of the electricity as a

At the same time, customers often suffer from

interruptions, transients, and network disturbances from loads.

EXAMPLES OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION

1. the local level

same technologies with similar effects.

internal combustion engine.

isolated "islands" of electric energy production or they can serve as small

TYPES OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES

7kWh/m2 depending on the location.

electricity using silicon based solar cells.

characteristics at the site with a maximum capacity factor of 25%.

power plants, except in very windy areas.

caused by high winds, but good operating safety.

sun there tends to be wind and vice versa.

at a height of 50m is above 200W/sq.m.

with relatively weak winds during the rest of the year.

that is site specific.

40% of Indias primary energy use.

gasification, IGCC, pyrolysis.

FUTURE VIEW OF A POWER SYSTEM

POTENTIAL BENEFIT QUALITY OF

electrical transmission and distribution network.

consumers with affordable power at a higher level of quality.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS UNINTERRUPTED

require uninterrupted service.

billion per year.

one-hour power outage was $6,480,000 for brokerage operations and

consistent power supplies.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS ENVIRONMENTAL

provide ancillary benefits to society.

monoxide, sulfur oxides, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and

between high levels of sulfur oxide emissions and the creation of

POTENTIAL BENEFITS REDUCED

technologies reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 41% .

widespread use of DG technologies have cut emissions by 30%

photovoltaic panels, and hydroelectric turbines, consume no fossil