Abstract
Distributed power generation undergoing significant change as disparate pools of capacity give way to the establishment of integrated local generation. While distributed generation can reduce network losses and improve network stability, there are still a number of barriers including network connection costs, the operation of net metering and in some cases the application of market liberalisation. Resolution of these issues and efficiency gains in conventional, advanced fuel cell and renewable technologies will eventually lead to easier and faster integration of distributed generation and significant growth in distributed generating capacity. ' The Future of Distributed Power Generation' is a new report published by Business Insights that examines key environmental and legislative issues and analyses the technologies, efficiency and economics of conventional fossil fuel and advanced distributed generation. This new report analyses how demand for distributed generation capacity is likely to change as concern over energy security and network stability grows.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Network issues
- Conventional fossil-fuel based distributed generation
- Advanced fossil-fuel based distributed generation
- Renewable technologies for distributed generation
- Environmental and legislative issues
- The economics of distributed generation
- The outlook for distributed generation
Chapter 1 Introduction
- Introduction
- The history of distributed generation
- Definition of distributed generation
- Advantages of distributed generation
- Types of distributed generation
- Rural power
- The structure of the report
Chapter 2 Network issues
- Introduction
- Distribution network requirements
- Effects of market liberalization
- Distributed generation and the distribution network
- DG behind the meter
- Active distribution systems
- Efficiency and losses
- Virtual power plants
- System stability
- The future
Chapter 3 Conventional fossil-fuel based technologies for distributed generation
- Introduction
- Reciprocating engines
- Engine cycles
- Engine types
- Engine speeds
- Cogeneration with reciprocating engines
- Engine emissions
- Engine developments
- Engine costs
- Gas turbines
- Turbine types and sizes
- Gas turbines for cogeneration
- Advanced gas turbine cycles
- Gas turbine emissions
- Gas turbine costs
- Microturbines
- Stirling engines
Chapter 4 Advanced fossil fuel-based technologies for distributed generation: Fuel cells
- Introduction
- The fuel cell principle
- Phosphoric acid fuel cell
- Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
- Molten carbonate fuel cell
- Solid oxide fuel cell
- The fuel cell market
Chapter 5 Renewable technologies for distributed generation
- Introduction
- Solar power
- Solar thermal power generation
- Solar photovoltaic power generation
- Wind power
- Small hydropower
- Small hydro technology
- Small hydro costs
- Marine technologies
- Tidal energy
- Wave energy
- Ocean (tidal) stream generation
- Comparison of distributed generation technologies
Chapter 6 Environmental and legislative issues
- Introduction
- Distributed generation based on fossil fuel combustion
- Distributed generation based on renewable technologies
- The environmental impact of distributed generation
- Legislative issues
- Conflict of interest
- Capacity planning
Chapter 7 The economics of distributed power generation
- Introduction
- The cost of electricity
- Distributed generation installation costs
- Cost of electricity
Chapter 8 The outlook for distributed power generation
- Introduction
- The effect of market liberalization and policy initiatives
- Policy drivers
- Prospects
List of Figures
- Figure 4.1: Annual fuel cell power plant sales (units sold), 1996-2007
- Figure 5.2: Annual solar cell production and cumulative capacity (MW), 1999-2006
- Figure 5.3: Cost comparison of solar technologies ($/kW)
- Figure 5.4: Global wind capacity additions (MW)
- Figure 5.5: Renewable distributed generation technology cost comparison ($/kW)
- Figure 6.6: Efficiencies of fossil fuel generating technologies (%)
- Figure 6.7: Nitrogen oxides emissions from fossil fuel units (g/MWh)
- Figure 7.8: The value of electricity in the UK market (£/kWh)
- Figure 7.9: Cost of electricity from distributed generation technologies ($/kWh)
- Figure 8.10: Distributed generation market drivers and inhibitors
- Figure 8.11: Forecast distributed generation capacity on the UK distribution network (MW)
List of Tables
- Table 1.1: Installed Distributed Generation Units in US
- Table 1.2: Definition of Distributed Generation
- Table 2.3: Passive and active distribution networks
- Table 3.4: Engines types
- Table 3.5: Gas turbine types
- Table 3.6: Technology comparison
- Table 4.7: Phosphoric acid fuel cell
- Table 4.8: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
- Table 4.9: Molten carbonate fuel cell
- Table 4.10: Solid oxide fuel cell
- Table 4.11: Annual fuel cell power plant sales (units sold), 1996-2007
- Table 4.12: Technology comparison
- Table 5.13: Annual solar cell production and cumulative capacity (MW), 1999-2006
- Table 5.14: Comparison of solar technologies by size (MW) and cost ($/kW)
- Table 5.15: Global wind capacity additions (MW)
- Table 5.16: Small hydropower categories
- Table 5.17: Renewable distributed generation technology comparison, capacity (kW/MW) and cost ($/kW)
- Table 6.18: Efficiencies of fossil fuel generating technologies (%)
- Table 6.19: Nitrogen oxides emissions from fossil fuel units (g/MWh)
- Table 7.20: The value of electricity in the UK market (£/kWh)
- Table 7.21: Distributed generation installation costs
- Table 7.22: Cost of electricity from distributed generation technologies ($/kWh)
- Table 7.23: Further costs of electricity from distributed generation technologies ($/kWh)
- Table 8.24: Forecast distributed generation capacity on the UK distribution network (MW)
