Distributed Power is new industry resulting from a combination of market factors including: utility deregulation, the long regulatory process of building new power plants, the expectation of being able to generate your own power using natural gas at a cost lower than purchasing it from the Utility Company, and the requirement that Utilities are required to purchase surplus power. Typical customers include restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, offices and factories. The North American market demand will create a scale of production where unit cost will drop, creating very strong overseas demand. Cogeneration will have a significant impact on distributed power systems. The solutions for distributed power are the same for remote power. Natural gas, diesel, and alcohol will be preferred fuels for developing countries. Renewable energies will also have an impact on distributed power systems, but to a lesser degree than envisioned 10 to 15 years ago. Polar has pioneered technologies in distributed power and renewable technologies.

UPS (Uninterruptible Power System) is an established market which has been focused on backing up the utility power for periods of a few minutes to a few hours. With deregulation there is a growing concern about the reliability of power. With more and more electronic commerce there is a greater need for power reliability. Businesses are seeking backup solutions for days and weeks for emergency services (fire, police, etc.). Propane, natural gas, and dual fuel generators are the only cost effective and reliable solution. DC generators are a more reliable solution than AC generators.

Oil Field is a market in need of simple and reliable small DC power systems to operate telemetry and data gathering equipment in the field (SCADA and RTU’s). Power for cathodic protection is needed to prevent billions of dollars in oil pipelines from corroding.

Militaries are striving to improve the efficiency of refrigeration for food storage and potable water in the field. Smaller and lower maintenance power systems are being developed and refined for powering communications in the field. The research and testing funded by Polar and the US Military benefits the developing countries and commercial applications.

Developing countries need refrigeration, potable water, electric power, telephone, radio, and television communications for their rural and remote communities. The generation of electric power must be environmentally clean, low maintenance, and reliable. Developing these rural and remote communities helps stabilize migrating populations and reduces poverty. Most food spoils before it can be consumed; refrigeration feeds more people and reduces the burden on the environment. Vaccine refrigerators and potable water systems will help stem the spread of disease. Electric power provides the means to further develop cottage industries, improving world economy. Communications improve political stability and provide the infrastructure to attract investment, commerce, and tourism.