On-site power for industrial
and commercial sites.
A new production line, a warehouse expansion or new equipment can need more power than the site’s connection delivers. Behind-the-meter generation is one way to add it.
The constraint
Utility service upgrades depend on transformer availability, network work and the utility’s schedule. Meanwhile the site’s growth plan waits. A full electrical panel can also reflect local equipment limits rather than utility capacity, so the first step is an engineer’s assessment of the panel, service, load and protection. How long grid connections take, with sources.
How behind-the-meter capacity works
Grid-tied generation on the customer side of the meter adds capacity alongside the existing supply and can manage peaks that drive demand charges. It can also carry selected loads if the grid is interrupted, depending on the site design. Behind the meter vs front of the meter, explained.
Questions to answer before sizing
- Load profile, operating hours and the additional demand the expansion adds.
- Whether the limit is the utility service, the site’s own equipment, or both.
- Whether the site has a steady heat demand that could favor combined heat and power.
- Planned on-site compute, such as machine vision or a small data room, and its rack density.
- Fuel available at the site, and space for equipment.
- Permitting, emissions and noise requirements.
Options to compare
Compare a utility service upgrade, combined heat and power where heat is useful, natural gas generators matched to the right duty rating, batteries for peak shaving, and fuel cells. There is no universal lowest-cost option: compare the actual utility proposal with on-site options using the load profile, tariff, fuel contract, equipment, financing, maintenance and cost of delay.
Where the DOR fits*
The DOR is being developed as compact behind-the-meter capacity. Engineering targets: 200 kW electrical output per unit, parallel operation (five units would target 1 MW), a 1.4 × 1.0 × 2.0 m package of about 15 sq ft, 700 kg, about 90 kVA per cubic meter, 69 dBA at 5 m, and a grid-forming inverter for grid-tied, standalone or microgrid operation. Planned fuels are natural gas, CNG, LPG, biofuel and hydrogen blends. An integrated DOR prototype has not yet been built or tested; these are targets subject to integrated-system testing, third-party validation and certification, and first pilot deployments are planned for 2027. See the technology and datasheet.
Common questions
How do I power a new warehouse without waiting for the grid upgrade?
Behind-the-meter generation can be evaluated against a utility upgrade. The pre-pilot DOR is designed for modular, parallel configurations, but unit count, timing, site work, permitting, fuel and electrical integration must be determined from the site’s actual load profile.
My factory needs more amps but the meter cannot deliver them. What can I do?
Evaluate properly engineered behind-the-meter generation alongside a utility upgrade. The pre-pilot DOR is designed for grid-tied operation and peak-shaving use cases, subject to validation, site engineering, permitting, fuel and utility requirements.
What is the cheapest way to add electrical capacity at my site?
It depends on the site. Compare the actual utility proposal with on-site options using the load profile, tariff, fuel contract, equipment, financing, maintenance, permitting, interconnection, construction and cost of delay. The pre-pilot DOR has no universal lowest-cost or fixed-delivery claim.
Has the DOR been deployed at a site like this?
No. The DOR is pre-pilot: an integrated prototype has not yet been built or tested, and first pilot deployments are planned for 2027. Figures on this page are engineering targets or illustrations, not results from installed projects.
Plan your site’s expansion.
Bring your load profile, current service and growth plan. We’ll help define what to evaluate. Site fit depends on permitting, fuel supply, interconnection and engineering review.
Discuss your site