The distributed generation market is in trends by increasing adoption of renewable energy sources for distributed power generation. Distributed generation refers to the small-scale power generation technologies located near the end users of power such as homes, businesses, and industries. These technologies include solar photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, fuel cells, microturbines, reciprocating engines, gas turbines, and diesel generators. The distributed generation solutions provide several advantages over traditional centralized power plants such as reduced transmission and distribution costs, improved power reliability, and higher operating efficiency. With growing awareness about environmental protection and energy security, distributed generation is gaining popularity as an innovative solution to meet the increasing demand for electricity through localized renewable sources like solar and wind.

The Global Distributed Generation Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 364.46 Billion in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 14% over the forecast period from 2024 to 2031.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the Distributed Generation market are Siemens AG, General Electric, Schneider Electric SE, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, and Capstone.

The demand for distributed generation technologies is growing significantly due to rising global energy demand and increasing focus on attainment of energy independence through renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. The growing awareness about environmental protection is also encouraging commercial and residential consumers to adopt sustainable distributed power generation options.

Many countries globally are supporting the growth of distributed power generation through various incentives and policies. The supportive regulatory frameworks in developed nations of Europe and North America have boosted distributed generation capacity additions. Meanwhile, the governments in developing economies are also introducing new policies and programs to promote off-grid renewable solutions, which is attracting global players to expand in high-potential markets like Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Market key trends

Increased integration of renewable energy sources in the energy mix is a major trend in the distributed generation market. Solar PV and wind power are emerging as widely adopted distributed energy resources globally due to the falling costs of renewable technologies. The supportive government policies in the form of net metering, tax rebates, and capital subsidies are further encouraging commercial and residential prosumers to setup rooftop solar panels and install wind turbines. The growing uptake of renewable distributed generation solutions is expected to significantly boost the global market during the forecast period.

Porter's Analysis

Threat of new entrants: High setup costs for manufacturing renewable energy equipment and requirement of technical knowhow acts as a barrier for new companies.
Bargaining power of buyers: Large buyers can negotiate on price and demand better service which increases their bargaining power.
Bargaining power of suppliers: A few big equipment manufacturers globally results in less bargaining power for buyers.
Threat of new substitutes: Ongoing R&D in renewable energy offers viable alternatives in future which can threaten existing technologies.
Competitive rivalry: Intense competition exists among major players to gain market share through technological innovation, cost reduction and partnerships.

The distributed generation market in North America is currently the most concentrated region, accounting for over 35% of the global market value in 2024, driven by supportive policies in the US and Canada promoting adoption of renewable energy. Asia Pacific region is poised to become the fastest growing market during the forecast period from 2024 to 2031 given the massive renewable energy capacity addition targets set by China and India to meet their increasing electricity demand as well as push for energy access in rural areas.