Distributed Generation and Megacities: Are Renewables the Answer?

Distributed electricity generation is the opposite of centralized electricity production, the mode that has dominated modern commercial electrical supplies for more than a century. Rather than relying on large central stations (fossil fueled, nuclear, or hydro) and high-voltage transmission lines, distributed electricity generation depends on small-scale, decentralized, local, on-site generation, preferably by tapping renewable energy sources. This arrangement avoids long-distance transmission losses, and, once organized in a web of smart microgrids, its design improves supply stability and reliability and gives users more control. As the cost of new renewable energy conversions continues to decline, this form of electricity supply is expected to claim a rising share of overall generation. Indeed, according to Rodan Energy, distributed generation is not just the future of electricity, but also "the future of energy."