Distributed Generation of Electricity and Sustainable Regional Growth

Abstract

The rather high distributed generation (DG) ramp-up observed in the world is largely associated with the progress in low-power generation technologies and the measure of state support for renewable energy sources. Distributed generation delivers sustainable development of low electricity demand areas where centralized power supply is too expensive. In Russia, the installed electrical capacity of DG has reached 37 GW and its contribution to the country’s electric power industry turns out to be very significant: approximately 13.7%. Moreover, more than half of the available facilities are used as stand-by, peak-load, and seasonal sources of electricity. The technological basis of the DG in the country is thermal power plants. The article considers in detail the possible options for operating DG plants. It is shown that the priority areas for the DG application are areas with low density of electrical loads, including rural and low population areas. The presence of infrastructural restrictions for connecting new consumers to the electrical network favors the use of DG in the centralized power supply zone as well. Prospects for the further DG application in the world are associated with the development of renewable energy and the improvement of electrochemical technologies, primarily electricity storage devices. In Russia, apparently, DG technologies based on fossil fuels will prevail for a long time. The country’s great demand for thermal energy will contribute to the widespread use of cogeneration plants. A significant reserve for DG development is the reconstruction of the country’s numerous gas boilers in small CHP plants with a potential of 41 GW of electrical capacity.