| DG Technology | General Information | Application Range | Electric conversion efficiency | Application | Fuel | Comments |
| Reciprocating Engines |
| Diesel: 20 kWe - 10 + MWe (IEA) | 36% - 43% (IEA) | Emergency or standby services | diesel, heavy fuel oil and biodiesel |
|
|
| Gas: 5 kWe - 5 + MWe (IEA) | 28% - 42% (IEA) | CHP | natural gas, biogas, landfill gas |
| |
| Gas Turbines |
| 1 - 20 MWe (IEA) | 21% - 40% (IEA) | CHP, peak power supply units | Gas, kerosene |
|
| Micro turbines |
| 30 kWe - 200 kWe (IEA) | 25% - 30% (IEA) | Power generation, possible with CHP | Natural gas, flare, biogas, landfill gas |
|
|
| 35 kWe - 1 MWe (A) |
|
| |||
|
| Small scale applications up to < 1 kWe |
|
| |||
| Fuel Cells | Molten Carbon: MCFC | 250 kWe - 2 MWe (A) | ±50% - 55% (IEA) | High temperature | Methanol, Hydrogen or natural gas |
|
| Proton Exchange Membrane: PEMFC | 1 kWe - 250 kWe (A) | ±35% (IEA) | Low temperature application in transport and stationery use |
| ||
| Solid Oxide: SOFC | 1 kWe - 5 MWe (A) | ±50% - 55% (IEA) | High temperature |
| ||
| Phosphoric Acid: PAFC (commercially available) | 200 kWe - 2 MWe (A) | ±35% (IEA) | Transport sector major potential market; power generation most likely immediate application; CHP, UPS |
| ||
| Direct Methanol: DMFC | 50 kWe - 1 MWe (IEA) | 35% - 60% (IEA) |
| |||
| Photovoltaic | Generates no heat | 1 + kW (IEA) | Not applicable | Household and small commercial applications | Sun | Non-predictable output; capacity factor ~10% - 15% in Western Europe |
| 20 + kW (A) (every range possible when using more cells) | Off-grid applications; developing countries; small scale applications | |||||
| Wind | On shore and in-land | 200 W - 3 MW (A) | Not applicable |
| Wind | Non-predictable output; capacity factor ~20% - 25% |
| Other renewables | Includes thermal solar, small hydro, geothermal, ocean, |
| Not applicable |
|
|
|