Generators

Generators can power critical appliances such as home medical devices, heaters, air conditioners, refrigerator/freezers, water pumps and lighting during an electrical power outage, as well as other items household items require power during an interruption:

• Cellular telephone chargers
• Cordless telephones
• Home office equipment
• Security systems
• Sump pumps
• Televisions and radios

In multi-family housing units, such as high-rise apartments, backup generators supply power to operate essential building services.

These include elevators, water pumps and lobby and stairwell lighting.

Additionally, a significant portion of the world’s population lives in areas not currently serviced by the electric grid. In the context of electricity access, these areas are generally referred to as “remote” or “off-grid” locations. Households in such areas rely on continuous on-site power generation solutions, including gensets, for their electricity needs.

Approximately 87% of all genset units sold annually are utilized by consumers in residential and recreational applications. The remaining 13% of genset units are used in commercial and industrial applications. In 2009, nearly 9.3 million generators were sold globally for residential applications.

Gensets for onsite residential power generation applications are generally classified into portable generators and stationary generators. Portable generators are smaller, transportable units which typically supply electricity to specific appliances through the use of extension cords. Stationary generators are larger, permanently installed units that can automatically provide electricity to specific circuits in the home. Both portable and stationary gensets can provide either continuous power to off-grid households or serve as backup generators to gridconnected homes in the event of grid power disruptions.