U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Distributed Energy Program
Distributed energy offers solutions to many of the nation's most pressing energy and electric power problems, including blackouts and brownouts, energy security concerns, power quality issues, tighter emissions standards, transmission bottlenecks, and the desire for greater control over energy costs.
The Distributed Energy Program supports cost-effective research and development aimed at lowering costs, reducing emissions, and improving reliability and performance to expand opportunities for the installation of distributed energy equipment today and in the future. Program activities are focused on two technology areas:
Small-scale, modular technologies for on-site, grid-connected or stand-alone energy conversion and delivery. |
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Systems that combine distributed power generation with equipment that uses thermal energy to improve overall energy efficiency and fuel use. |