The Distributed Energy Technologies Subprogram supports research and development on a variety of small, modular energy generation devices including reciprocating engines, industrial turbines, microturbines, and thermally activated equipment. This equipment can be used by manufacturing plants, industrial facilities, commercial businesses, schools, hospitals, government agencies, and electric and gas utilities to reduce costs and environmental impacts, and increase electric reliability, power quality, and energy security.

The End-Use System Integration and Interface Subprogram supports research and development to assess the energy efficiency, economic, and environmental impacts of distributed energy technologies in a variety of applications and system configurations. Such configurations include combined heat and power, on-site energy management, and demand response for peak load management.

Distributed Energy offers solutions to many of the nation's most pressing energy and electric power problems, including blackouts and brownouts, energy price spikes, energy security concerns, power quality issues, rising energy costs, tighter emission standards, transmission bottlenecks, and the desire for greater control over energy costs. Distributed energy systems may be used by both energy producers and consumers, including electric and gas utilities, manufacturing plants, industrial process industries, commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, and government agencies.

Distributed energy systems have the potential to be a least-cost energy solution for meeting many types of energy needs. For example:

• power companies can install distributed energy systems in grid congested areas and operate them during peak periods
• facilities with needs for heating, cooling, and electric power can install combined heat and power systems or thermally activated heating and cooling devices to boost energy efficiency and reduce upstream electricity needs
• businesses with needs for extremely high reliability (i.e. silicon chip manufacturing, financial centers, server farms, etc.), can install distributed energy systems to ensure that power is available whenever it is needed

Unfortunately, technical, economic, regulatory, and institutional barriers sometimes interfere with the installation of these technologies. That is why the DE Program has been established. The Distributed Energy Program supports cost-effective research and development programs aimed at lowering costs, reducing emissions, and improving reliability and performance to expand opportunities for the installation of cost effective distributed energy equipment today and in the future.

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