Contenido

Los sistemas empleados como fuentes de energía distribuida (FED) son plantas de generación de energía a pequeña escala (normalmente entre el rango de 3 kW a 10 MW) usadas para proporcionar una alternativa o una ayuda a las tradicionales centrales de generación eléctricas.

Power generation modes

FED systems may include the following devices or technologies:.

Photovoltaic systems

One of the main sources of distributed energy is photovoltaic solar energy, produced by solar panels on the roofs of buildings. It is a technology that is growing rapidly, doubling its total installed capacity approximately every two years. There is a wide range of photovoltaic systems, from small residential or commercial rooftop installations, building-integrated installations, and large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic plants.

The predominant photovoltaic technology is crystalline silicon, while thin film solar cell technology has approximately 10% of the market.[5]​ In recent years, photovoltaic solar energy has improved its efficiency of converting light energy into electricity, reducing installation costs (peak watt) and increasing the energy return rate, having already achieved grid parity (that is, the production of electricity at a cost lower than or equal to the general price of the grid electricity) in at least 19 countries in 2014.[6]​.

Like most renewable energies, and unlike coal or nuclear energy, photovoltaic energy is variable and not manageable, but its advantages include the absence of fuel costs (solar radiation), its zero pollution during the operation phase, as well as its reliability and safety. It has its maximum production peak around solar noon and its capacity factor is around 20%.[7]​.

Wind systems

Another source of distributed generation is small wind generators. These have low maintenance, and low pollution. The cost of its installation is ($0.80/W, 2007) higher per watt than traditional plants, except in areas with a lot of wind where production ratios increase considerably. Wind towers and generators require higher insurance costs due to the wind and the loneliness of the facilities, but they have good operational reliability. Wind energy is usually complementary to solar energy; On days when there is no sun it is usually windy and vice versa.[8] Some distributed generation sites combine wind energy with solar energy, which is known as hybrid systems.

Cogeneration

Distributed cogeneration sources use natural gas microturbines as fuel or combustion engines to power the generators. The heat generated is used to heat air or water, or to activate an absorption refrigerator[9]​ for air conditioning. Clean fuel generates little pollution. These combined heat and power generation plants typically have inconsistent reliability, yet they have excellent maintenance costs, although other costs are unacceptable.

Cogenerators are also more expensive per watt than generating plants. These facilities have experienced a boom because industries consume fuel, and cogeneration can extract added value from this fuel.

Combined cycle

Some large facilities use combined cycle generation. Normally these consist of a gas turbine that boils water to act on a steam turbine in a Rankine cycle. The vapor cycle condenser provides heat for air heating or absorption refrigeration. Combined cycle plants have high thermal efficiencies, often exceeding 50%.

Electric vehicles

A future generation of electric vehicles will be able to deliver power from their battery to the electricity grid when needed.[10] This could be an important source of distributed generation in the future.

Because distributed generation (DG) is connected to the distribution network, more and more efforts are being dedicated to studying the impact that distributed generation causes on the distribution networks to which it is connected.

The most important studies focus on:

Contenido

Los sistemas empleados como fuentes de energía distribuida (FED) son plantas de generación de energía a pequeña escala (normalmente entre el rango de 3 kW a 10 MW) usadas para proporcionar una alternativa o una ayuda a las tradicionales centrales de generación eléctricas.

Power generation modes

FED systems may include the following devices or technologies:.

Photovoltaic systems

One of the main sources of distributed energy is photovoltaic solar energy, produced by solar panels on the roofs of buildings. It is a technology that is growing rapidly, doubling its total installed capacity approximately every two years. There is a wide range of photovoltaic systems, from small residential or commercial rooftop installations, building-integrated installations, and large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic plants.

The predominant photovoltaic technology is crystalline silicon, while thin film solar cell technology has approximately 10% of the market.[5]​ In recent years, photovoltaic solar energy has improved its efficiency of converting light energy into electricity, reducing installation costs (peak watt) and increasing the energy return rate, having already achieved grid parity (that is, the production of electricity at a cost lower than or equal to the general price of the grid electricity) in at least 19 countries in 2014.[6]​.

Like most renewable energies, and unlike coal or nuclear energy, photovoltaic energy is variable and not manageable, but its advantages include the absence of fuel costs (solar radiation), its zero pollution during the operation phase, as well as its reliability and safety. It has its maximum production peak around solar noon and its capacity factor is around 20%.[7]​.

Wind systems

Another source of distributed generation is small wind generators. These have low maintenance, and low pollution. The cost of its installation is ($0.80/W, 2007) higher per watt than traditional plants, except in areas with a lot of wind where production ratios increase considerably. Wind towers and generators require higher insurance costs due to the wind and the loneliness of the facilities, but they have good operational reliability. Wind energy is usually complementary to solar energy; On days when there is no sun it is usually windy and vice versa.[8] Some distributed generation sites combine wind energy with solar energy, which is known as hybrid systems.

Cogeneration

Distributed cogeneration sources use natural gas microturbines as fuel or combustion engines to power the generators. The heat generated is used to heat air or water, or to activate an absorption refrigerator[9]​ for air conditioning. Clean fuel generates little pollution. These combined heat and power generation plants typically have inconsistent reliability, yet they have excellent maintenance costs, although other costs are unacceptable.

Cogenerators are also more expensive per watt than generating plants. These facilities have experienced a boom because industries consume fuel, and cogeneration can extract added value from this fuel.

Combined cycle

Some large facilities use combined cycle generation. Normally these consist of a gas turbine that boils water to act on a steam turbine in a Rankine cycle. The vapor cycle condenser provides heat for air heating or absorption refrigeration. Combined cycle plants have high thermal efficiencies, often exceeding 50%.

Electric vehicles

A future generation of electric vehicles will be able to deliver power from their battery to the electricity grid when needed.[10] This could be an important source of distributed generation in the future.

Because distributed generation (DG) is connected to the distribution network, more and more efforts are being dedicated to studying the impact that distributed generation causes on the distribution networks to which it is connected.

The most important studies focus on: