Federal Government

The Federal Government has been funding distributed energy resources research for many years throughout various offices and national laboratories. The Department of Energy (DOE) is a strong supporter of RD&D for the commercialization of DER technologies. The DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) office operates the Distributed Energy Program. The DE Program is organized into the following program areas, all of which support DER initiatives and encourage advanced energy education and outreach:

• Distributed Energy Technologies
  
  
  • Industrial Gas Engines
  • Microturbines
  • Gas-Fired Reciprocating Engines
  • Thermally Activated Technologies
  • Technology Base Research

• End-Use System Integration and Interface
  
  
  • CHP Technologies
  • CHP Applications

The Distributed Energy Program sponsors programs and initiatives for the advancement of many DER technologies, including:

• In 2000, the DOE spent $175 million on DER programs, including $66 million for photovoltaic technology, $44 million for fuel cells, $33 million on wind technology, and $24 million on combustion turbines.

The Office of Fossil Energy, under its Electric Power R&D division, includes the following distributed generation goals:

• Commercially introduce high-temperature, natural gas-fueled molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) capable of 50 to 60 percent efficiency in the multi-kilowatt range at $1,000-1,500 per kW by 2003.

• Expand MCFC and SOFC fuel use to gasified coal and other hydrocarbons by 2010.

• Achieve market entry for a 21st-century fuel cell using solid-state composition and advanced fabrication techniques to achieve 80 percent efficiency and reduce capital costs to $400 per kW with stack costs of $100 per kW by 2015.

• Commercially introduce early fuel cell/gas turbine hybrids capable of 70 percent efficiency by 2010.

• Commercially introduce an advanced gas-fired reciprocating engine with 50 percent efficiency and NOx emissions of 5 ppm or less by 2010.