There are many reasons why an individual, a business, or a huge industrial organization might have a diesel generator of some size. The diesel generator that a homeowner has will be much smaller and look much different from the one that a huge industrial or military organization will have, but the purpose is the same. A diesel generator can produce electricity without reliance on the power grid when there are outages or when the users are in a remote location where there is not access to power.
Many a farmer has relied on a diesel generator to strengthen their operation or even act as a primary source of power. This practice has been going on for generations, but most farmers now rely on the power grid. More people are interested in having a diesel generator in their home even as we rely on power lines, though, because there's no way of knowing when there will be a blackout. During the summer months, when power usage is up and blackouts are always a possibility, a diesel generator can ensure that homeowners will not be in the dark if their area is using too much power to maintain.
Most people think a diesel generator belongs in large industrial applications, and although they are very common in these types of operations there are many other uses for them. A large diesel generator ranges from 20 kW to more than 2000 kW, which is enough to run an entire power plant if need be. A diesel generator can also power a hospital during a blackout, which can save lives that are hanging in the balance, relying on modern machines to keep them going. It could also support emergency services and provide reliable power for the police, ambulance and fire departments.
No one should ever underestimate what a diesel generator can do, even if it is not often that most people see them or use them. They are reliable work horses that bring emergency power in times of crisis.