Book excerpt: Based on one of the hottest topics in the electrical industry, Essentials of Distributed Generation Systems provides a concise overview of the five most prominent distributed generation technologies in the market: solar power, wind power, fuel cells, microturbines, and engine-generators. Logically arranged, the first half of the text examines the strengths and weaknesses of each system, summarizing the components, operations, and limitations users will encounter with the use of these systems. A broader approach is taken in the second half of the book, with the author discussing common factors that affect each of the alternative technologies. With its accessible writing style and easy-to-use format, Essentials of Distributed Generation Systems is an ideal summary of available distributed generation systems and a helpfulon-the-job tool.