DER technologies include Combined Heat and Power (CHP), Waste Heat to Power, Linear Generator, Battery Storage, and Solar Photovoltaic.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Technologies
CHP technologies generate electricity while capturing heat that would otherwise be wasted. This heat can be used to provide thermal energy such as steam or hot water for space heating, cooling, domestic hot water, and industrial processes.
In California, a CHP system can be powered from natural gas, renewable natural gas, biogas and/or hydrogen in technologies such as engines, turbines, microturbines, or even fuel cells. A CHP system could be comprised of an internal-combustion engine generator, a micro-turbine, a gas turbine, a steam turbine, a fuel cell and heat recovery equipment.
These systems simply capture and utilize excess heat generated during the production of electric power. CHP systems offer economic, environmental, and reliability-related advantages as compared to conventional power generation facilities that produce only electricity.
- Increased energy efficiency
- Reduced air emissions
- Customer power reliability and resilience
- Reduced energy and infrastructure costs
- Commercial buildings - office buildings, hotels, health clubs, nursing homes
- Residential - condominiums, co-ops, apartments, planned communities
- Institutions - colleges and universities, hospitals, prisons, military bases
- Municipal—district energy systems, wastewater treatment facilities, K-12 schools
- Manufacturers—chemical, refining, ethanol, pulp and paper, food processing, glass manufacturing.
MicroCHP is an extension of the idea of traditional CHP to the smaller customer sector range, in the range up to 50 kW. The difference between MicroCHP and CHP is the scale of the system, as traditional CHP systems are typically larger.
Waste Heat to Power – Pressure Reduction Turbine (PRT)
This technology refers to capturing waste heat and then turning it into electricity. This process involves two steps, including using the waste heat from other applications to create mechanical energy and then driving an electric generator.
Linear Generator
This technology converts linear motion or heat directly into electricity by driving magnets through copper coils.
Battery Storage
This technology uses lithium-ion batteries to enable renewables to be stored and then released when the power is needed.
Solar Photovoltaic
This technology converts sun light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect.