What impact does distributed generation have on the electrical grid?

Distributed generation refers to the decentralized production of electricity from various energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and small-scale hydroelectric systems, located close to the point of consumption. One of the key impacts of distributed generation on the electrical grid is its ability to reduce transmission losses and enhance grid resilience.

When electricity is generated close to where it is consumed, the distance that the electricity has to travel is shorter, which in turn minimizes the losses incurred during transmission. Traditional centralized generation often leads to significant energy loss as power travels long distances through transmission lines.

Moreover, distributed generation contributes to grid resilience by diversifying energy sources. This localized approach provides a form of redundancy; if one generator goes down, others can continue to supply power, and the overall system becomes less vulnerable to outages caused by natural disasters or other disruptions. The integration of renewable energy sources from distributed generation also helps in stabilizing the grid and can provide ancillary services that support reliability and balance supply and demand.

In contrast, other options fail to capture the multifaceted benefits of distributed generation. For instance, while it might seem that distributed generation solely increases transmission losses, it actually reduces them. The claim that it guarantees stable generation at all times overlooks the variability inherent in renewable sources.