Resources for Distributed Generation Options

This page provides access to distributed generation analysis tools, as well as general distributed energy technology information. We provide these resources for state- and local-level energy analysts, officials, and decision makers who are interested in requesting help from the Technical Assistance Project.

General Distributed Energy Technology Information

• DOE's Distributed Energy Program

  Accesses information on technologies such as gas-fired reciprocating engines, industrial gas turbines, microturbines, and combined heat and power systems.

• The California Energy Commission's Distributed Energy Resources Guide

  Provides information on cost/performance issues, markets, and applications for various distributed energy resources.

Online Models, Software, and Tools

• Distributed Energy Selector

  Evaluates the best distributed energy technology for a given application and geographical area by drawing on a database of more than 600 distributed energy products.

• Micropower Optimization Model (HOMER)

  Evaluates design options for both off-grid and grid-connected power systems. HOMER's optimization and sensitivity analysis algorithms make it easier to analyze many possible system configurations.

• Customer Adoption Model

  Looks at on-site electricity and heat requirements for distributed energy resources (DER) and develops an optimal plan for customers to meet this requirement at overall minimum cost over a test period. The customer adoption model (DER-CAM) was developed by the Distributed Energy Resources group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), which is developing ways to study customer adoption patterns of the technology.