Biopower is the use of biomass resources to produce, either singly or in combination, electricity, heat/steam, and cooling. About 1.5% of the total electricity generated is the U.S. is from biomass.
Distributed generation is typically defined as using small-scale (<1 MWe) electricity (or combined heat and power) production technologies located near the electricity user, and can use conventional fossil or renewable fuels such as a biomass.
Distributed generation can potentially lower the overall cost of electricity and reduce the need for investment in transmission and distribution to serve growing demands.
Issues associated with expanding the use of distributed generation include connection to the existing power grid, relations between generators and utilities, and environmental and permitting requirements of local governments.