The United States electric power grid is a vastly complex network of power generating plants, transmission lines, distribution equipment, controls and monitoring systems.
Historically, energy was generated at or near the load source. Over time, a centralized generation system was adopted, which has led to our long-distance transmission network for moving bulk power. As more renewable generators, such as solar, wind, and storage are added to the grid, our centralized generation architecture is being studied to determine more efficient ways of generating and distributing power.
The United States has made dramatic improvements in energy efficiency over the last few decades, however bulk centralized generation remains relatively inefficient with approximately sixty-six percent of the energy escaping as heat. This loss is most clearly documented in the yearly Energy Flow Diagram published by Lawrence Livermore National Labs.
The non-centralized, distributed renewable-based power systems designed and constructed by Pine Creek Power Systems™ blend renewable energy with thermal generation, using storage and IntelligentRE™. These non-centralized power systems rely less on fossil fuels and typically serve localized loads.
