Distributed Generation: Homegrown Power Plants
Before electric cooperatives began stringing power lines through rural America, many farm families made do with their own sources of electric generation. Noisy, often unreliable technologies like steam engines, windmills, battery sets, and ram pumps were the only options available to make electricity a part of daily life.
Today the cutting-edge cousins of these early generators can still be spotted in a variety of settings: an emergency diesel generator behind a hospital; a solar panel on your neighbor’s roof; perhaps even a new wind turbine at a neighboring farm.
These mini power plants, called distributed generation or on-site power, are located at or near where electricity gets used and make up 1 percent of all electricity generated in the United States. For consumers, distributed generation—with a typical capacity of no greater than 10 MW—can stand in as emergency backup power, provide greater independence, make an environmental statement, and in some cases can decrease electric utility bills.
Most on-site generation exists because the consumer cannot afford to be without power. If power goes out at a farm, there’s no water. So it makes a good case for a backup generator. In situations where an unscheduled outage could result in lost production, damaged equipment, or even dead animals, consumers such as manufacturing firms, data centers, and large livestock operations install distributed generation to protect their livelihood.
A consumer of an electric cooperative in Tyler, MN put small wind power to use on his farm, where he grows 1,200 acres of corn and soybeans and feeds about 4,000 hogs a year. After spending $33,500 on a used 35 kW wind turbine, he’s able to consume 95% of the electricity produced and sell the rest back to his local electric co-op, saving about $5,000 on his annual electric bill.
Distributed generation can have its benefits, and in a few cases it can save consumers money. But the number one priority when considering it is safety. For this reason, step one of the process involves contacting Access Energy Cooperative who can work with you in finding the best option to fit your needs.
For homeowners and farmers, distributed generation options include generators that run on diesel fuel or natural gas as well as “backyard” renewable energy systems such as anaerobic digesters (which capture the combustible methane gas produced by animal waste), small wind turbines, solar panels, and small-scale hydropower facilities called microhydro.
If you are interested in learning more about safe, distributed generation options for your home or business, Access Energy Cooperative is ready to help you through the process. For information, please contact our engineering department at 1.866.242.4232.