“Distributed power” is electric generation at or near the place where the power will be used. This can be as localized as a factory or even a single home. A microturbine is a source of distributed power based on local generation by small or “micro” electric generating plants. Since the power is generated on a local basis, availability of electricity is not reliant on the traditional grid system that blankets the U.S. In fact, many other parts of the world completely lack a grid system. Consequently, micropower could easily be the best solution for Third World communities. This is analogous to the rapid spread of cellular telephone usage in countries that lack landline telephone infrastructure.
One popular “microturbine” is a tiny jet engine-like turbine coupled with a generator burning natural gas, spinning at 92,000 RPM to produce 20- to 65 kilowatts. The units can be used singularly or grouped into large capacity systems, depending on the user's needs. They are also much quieter and more efficient (and thus less polluting) than traditional gas-burning generators.
An industry leader in this field is Capstone Turbine (
www.capstoneturbine.com). It began developing the microturbine concept in 1988. Ten years later it began shipping fully commercialized versions. Capstone has marketed its generators mainly to the stationary market for supplemental and backup power, but has also made microturbine-powered buses for municipalities. The company has installed thousands of units around the world.
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