Distributed Generation is a term that describes what happens when perhaps millions of small electrical generation systems—such as home solar panels and home wind power generation—begin feeding power into the smart grid.
Electric generation then becomes a truly two-way street, with customers sending power to the grid when they have it to offer and consuming power when their needs outstrip their generating capacity.
Many of these generation systems will be located at homes and small businesses and their owners will want an energy management system capable of managing and measuring distributed generation, along with its other tasks.
The Visible Energy EMS is such a system and will work with electricity meters, electrical sub-meters, power inverters, load monitors, and other devices that comprise the generation system, allowing solar and wind power to connect to the grid.
Owners will benefit from measurement and data collection on solar and wind energy generation and be able to participate in social networks with other users. Remote diagnostics and control are also supported.
Distributed generation and demand response are just two of the ways consumers are learning to work with their power providers to save energy and reduce their electric bills.