Distributed Energy Resources

This course presents an overview of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and Distributed Generation (DG) technologies including the role of distributed technologies in an efficient market. Other topics include distribution vs. transmission, cogeneration, and power generation prime movers including reciprocating engine generation, turbines and microturbines; power quality and quantity; fuel cells, what they are and how they work and the different types; photovoltaics, including where it is used, how PV cells work, PV cell material, common configurations; grid-connected systems, utility interconnection policy, and more.

Alternative version: Cogeneration: A Distributed Generation Technology

In today's era of deregulation, many utility customers are investigating various applications for generating their own power, which can be isolated from or integrated with the utility power grid. This broader interest is reflected in the new and improved "Cogeneration" course, which is titled "Cogeneration: A Distributed Generation Technology."

This new course has been substantially revamped and now includes a discussion of distributed generation and its relationship to cogeneration technologies. The course also presents some new developments in generation technology, power management strategies, up-to-date regulatory information, information resources on the Internet, and much more.