Distributed generation technologies and the role of a progressive distribution utility

'Full text:' A review of trends in the distributed generation industry with a particular emphasis on the economic, financial and practical viability of emerging distributed generation technologies. The drivers of DG include customer demands for better reliability, higher quality power, lower costs and environmental concerns regarding new power plants and construction of wires infrastructure. The prominent opportunities that DG can help address also relate to savings, quality of power and reliability. For utilities, DG also has the potential for grid support, assist with system security issues and help defer capital expenditures in transmission and distribution where it is economic. The role of regulatory agencies, government policies and incentives to help reduce barriers to implementation of DG solutions will be addressed. (author)