Distributed Energy Resources examples — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2024

Consider the following:

Distributed energy resources (DERs) are small-scale and decentralised energy resources where electricity is generated from sources, often renewable energy sources, near the point of use instead of centralised generation sources from power plants.
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.

Use simple understanding here — Distributed Energy Resources are small, decentralized energy systems located near the point of use rather than large centralized plants. Battery storage, biomass generators, fuel cells, and rooftop solar units all fit this idea. Since all four can generate/store energy locally, eliminating any option becomes difficult.