UPSC Prelims 2024 Question:

Consider the following

1. Battery storage 
2. Biomass generators 
3. Fuel cells 
4. Rooftop solar photovoltaic units
   
   

How many of the above are considered “Distributed Energy Resources”?

Explanation:

Distributed Energy Resources:

• • It often refers to smaller generation units located on the consumer’s side of the meter. Examples of distributed energy resources that can be installed include:

• rooftop solar photovoltaic units

• • • wind generating units

• battery storage

• • • batteries in electric vehicles used to export power back to the grid
    • combined heat and power units, or tri-generation units that also utilise waste heat to provide cooling
    • biomass generators, which are fuelled with waste gas or industrial and agricultural by-products
    • open and closed cycle gas turbines
    • reciprocating engines (diesel, oil)
    • hydro and mini-hydro schemes

• fuel cells

• Many of these technologies are not exclusively found "behind the meter".
• Distributed generation (also known as embedded or local generation) is the term used when electricity is generated from sources, often renewable energy sources, near the point of use instead of centralised generation sources from power plants.

So, all four of the above are considered “Distributed Energy Resources”.

Therefore, option (4) is the correct answer.

Subject: Environment | Renewable and Energy Resources