btw those who say big utilities won't let it happen ==> http://www.plugpower.com/ yeah they want a cut, but once it gets reasonable it will happen in a lot of places.
Problem with this is that
1) most DG networks are microturbines or fuels cells, the customer usually picks up the cost of the fuel
2) current natural gas prices make it expenive as heck
3) strong negative NIMBY because usually they are load (both fuel cells and microturbines)
4) high maintinence costs after a few years for membrane replacement and reconditioning of the turbine.
5) you have to hope your neighbors pay their fuel/usage bills...
right now its only really practical for large customers like hospitals and factories and for utilities to reduce local overloads of their system while they wait the requisite 2 billion years to site a new substation
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btw those who say big utilities won't let it happen ==> http://www.plugpower.com/ yeah they want a cut, but once it gets reasonable it will happen in a lot of places.
Problem with this is that 1) most DG networks are microturbines or fuels cells, the customer usually picks up the cost of the fuel 2) current natural gas prices make it expenive as heck 3) strong negative NIMBY because usually they are load (both fuel cells and microturbines) 4) high maintinence costs after a few years for membrane replacement and reconditioning of the turbine. 5) you have to hope your neighbors pay their fuel/usage bills... right now its only really practical for large customers like hospitals and factories and for utilities to reduce local overloads of their system while they wait the requisite 2 billion years to site a new substation