Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of distributed generation?

The characteristic that is not associated with distributed generation is the notion of high transportation costs for energy transmission. Distributed generation refers to energy production that takes place on a small scale, often near the point of use, utilizing local resources such as solar panels, wind turbines, or biomass. This approach significantly reduces the distance that electricity must travel from generation to consumption.

In general, one of the benefits of distributed generation is that it minimizes transmission losses and can lower transportation costs. When energy is produced closer to where it is consumed, it reduces the need for extensive transmission infrastructure, which can be costly and create inefficiencies. Therefore, high transportation costs are not a characteristic of distributed generation, which instead focuses on localized and efficient energy production to optimize resource utilization and reduce overall costs.

When evaluating the other characteristics, decentralized energy production highlights the way distributed generation operates outside of central power facilities. Utilization of local energy resources emphasizes the focus on harnessing nearby sources, and integration with renewable energy reflects the tendency of distributed systems to leverage sustainable technologies, all of which are key features of distributed generation.