A system for distributed utilities including electrical power and water. A generation device is provided for converting an available resource to a desired utility; the resource may be water, in which case the generator is a purifier for purifying untreated water, or, alternatively, the generator may convert a fuel to electrical power. In either case, an input sensor is provided for measuring input to the generation device, while an output sensor is provided for measuring consumption of output from the generation device. The monitoring system has a controller for concatenating measured input and consumption of output on the basis of the input and output sensors. Measured parameters are telemetered to a remote site where utility generation and use are monitored and may also be controlled. At least a portion of the electrical power capacity of the electric generation unit may power a water purification unit such as a vapor compression distillation unit, and heat output of the electric generation unit may supply heat to the water purification unit.

Heat from a safe high energy density fuel, such as aluminum, is used to generate electrical power. In some applications, the fuel may use seawater as an oxidizer. Additionally, the hybrid power system uses a highly efficient and silent thermoacoustic power converter (TAPC) to convert the thermal energy from the oxidation of aluminum to AC electrical energy. The AC electrical energy is converted to DC energy and stored in a battery. In situations demanding low power, the battery can provide power while the fuel combustion process is suspended.

A Stirling engine includes: the thermosiphon that accommodates the heating medium receiving heat from a heat source; and an engine unit that has a body accommodating working gas. A heater that gives heat to the working gas by the heating medium is arranged in the body. The Stirling engine includes an engine controller that executes control for increasing an absorbed amount of thermal energy from the heating medium when at least one of the pressure and the temperature of the heating medium exceeds a predetermined value.