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There are several technologies and solutions that may be used to generate or store energy as distributed energy resources for a building or operation.
Published: May 21, 2023
Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are energy generation and storage technologies that may help organizations manage energy costs, mitigate challenges with electric power access and reliability, and advance both sustainability and resiliency initiatives. DERs can supplement or replace the power generation provided by central utilities to improve efficiency, lower emissions, and reduce downtime events.
There are several technologies and solutions that may be used to generate or store energy as distributed energy resources for a building or operation. Here is a brief summary of these technologies:
Diesel Engine Generator (Gensets)
Application
Fuel Source
Benefits
Drawbacks
Standby Power
Simple cycle (power only) for baseload or peaking
Diesel fuel
Highly proven, reliable, quick start as standby.
In an off-grid system, can be used for base-load, load following or for peak-load power
Uses fossil fuels, which may contribute to increased emissions.
Dual-Fuel Gensets
Application
Fuel Source
Benefits
Drawbacks
Standby power
Simple cycle (power only) Base Load or Peaking
Combined Cycle (combined heat and power) - Base Load
Diesel fuel + natural gas
Benefit of quick start (diesel)
Lower emissions and higher efficiency than 100% diesel gensets
Can be installed as CHP
Uses fossil fuel, still utilizes diesel fuel which generates very high emissions
Natural Gas Gensets
Application
Fuel Source
Benefits
Drawbacks
Standby power
Simple cycle (power only) Base Load or Peaking
Combined Cycle (combined heat and power) - Base Load
Natural gas
Highly proven, reliable
Can be used as a cost effective baseload, load following and peaking unit
Lower emissions and higher efficiency than diesel gensets
Can be installed as CHP
High CHP efficiency for hot water or combined hot water and steam (<50% steam)
Some units may be converted to clean H2 fuel as the price of H2 falls over time
Uses fossil fuel, equipment can be installed with emissions reduction equipment
Combustion Turbines
Application
Fuel Source
Benefits
Drawbacks
Simple Cycle (power only) - Base Load or Peaking
Combined Cycle (combined heat and power) - Base Load
Gas or liquid fuel, typically high pressure natural gas
Efficient, lower maintenance than gensets
Designed for base load, peaking and load following applications
High CHP efficiency, for applications with steam requirements.
High Supplemental Duct Fire efficiencies (near 100% LHV).
Uses fossil fuel, equipment can be installed with emissions reduction equipment
Higher first cost than Gensets, requires high pressure fuel
Microturbines
Application
Fuel Source
Benefits
Drawbacks
Simple Cycle (power only) - Base Load or Peaking
Combined Cycle (combined heat and power) - Base Load
High pressure natural gas
Compact, pre-packaged
Low emissions
Modular for moving applications
Less efficient than combustion engines and larger combustion turbines
Limited lifecycle applications
Fuel Cells
Application
Fuel Source
Benefits
Drawbacks
Simple Cycle (power only) - Base Load or Peaking
Combined Cycle (combined heat and power) - Base Load
Hydrogen (potentially produced from natural gas or propane)
One of the cleanest forms of energy
Efficient, quiet
Modular
Expensive, low overall efficiency
Cogeneration or Combined Heat-and-Power
Application
Fuel Source
Benefits
Drawbacks
Using gensets, turbines or fuel cells as listed above
Waste heat from power generation, exhaust or engine cooling is converted to useful heat in the form of steam, hot water or chilled water through hot water, steam or HW/Steam absorption chillers
Recovered waste heat reduces the heat that must be generated by conventional equipment including boilers and chillers
Reduces emissions and improves efficiency
Only applicable for locations where the electrical AND thermal loads are consistent for more than 5,000 hours per year
Solar Photovoltaic Cells
Application
Fuel Source
Benefits
Drawbacks
As-available generation
Can be coupled with battery storage and utilized as baseload or peaking power
Sunlight
Renewable, no emissions
Modular, minimal maintenance
Can be used in remote applications, at utility scale, and in transport applications
Regions with low or highly variable sunlight may be less suitable
Wind Turbines
Application
Fuel Source
Benefits
Drawbacks
As-available generation
Can be coupled with battery storage and utilized as baseload or peaking power
Wind
Renewable
Can be used in remote power systems, small scale residential, or at utility scale
Regions with low or highly variable wind may be less suitable
Storage Technology and Devices
Thermal Energy Storage / Thermal Battery (Ice Storage or Stratified Chilled Water)
Electrochemical Battery Storage (most common form of storage)
Depending on an organization’s specific goals, one or more of these technologies may be used together to supply and/or store electricity. As building infrastructure is decarbonized through electrification and critical equipment becomes increasingly more electrified, using creative ways to generate cleaner, less expensive energy and harness wasted or renewable energy to enable grid independence will be important for reliable, resilient operations.
Not all electric grids are created equal.
Depending on your location, the energy sources used to create electricity may be more or less clean and more or less expensive. Moving toward electrified equipment may not improve the sustainability or cost-effectiveness of your operation if the grid uses carbon-intensive or expensive energy sources to produce electricity. Distributed energy resources can provide a means for facilities to manage generation assets and fuel sources, whether the goal is to minimize the carbon footprint, mitigate costs, or maximize resilience.
Considering how to Incorporate Distributed Energy Resources in your Operation?
If you’re considering how to incorporate DERs into your operation to help improve cost reduction, advance sustainability initiatives, or enhance resilience, the first step is to work with a trusted energy services company to help understand your operation. Through an analysis of your building and environment, and by reviewing utility charges and assessing demand patterns, it will be possible to determine the opportunities that may be available for power generation, and how to appropriately right-size and optimize a solution for your unique application.
The second step is to identify a funding or financing solution that works best for you, while considering how to incorporate tax incentives, utility rebates and credits, and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act has provided or expanded a variety of incentives for DER technologies like fuel cells, solar, and thermal energy storage , and local implementation of government programs may further improve the attractiveness of pursuing a DER solution.
Lastly, in conjunction with a funding solution, you’ll want to identify procurement and implementation options that meet your needs, such as Energy Service Agreements (ESAs), Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), or Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC). These holistic programs can streamline the process to implement solution to relieve the burden of having to manage complex project variables. They may also support guaranteed energy rates or energy savings, or eliminate the need for upfront capital expenditure to begin development.
Modernizing 32 state-owned buildings with ultra-efficient HVAC systems, intelligent building controls and renewable distributed energy resources enhances comfort while accelerating the State’s climate action plans and economic goals.
For the fourth time in a row, Trane has been awarded a US Department of Energy (DoE) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, known as an IDIQ. This lists Trane as a trusted provider that the DoE allows to bid on large energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs).