Ebook: Micro Cogeneration: Towards Decentralized Energy Systems

The electricity systems of many countries are currently undergoing a process of transformation. Market liberalization has induced major mergers and acquisitions in the electricity sector, but has also forced companies to seek out new business areas. Environmental regulations, like the Kyoto process and the European Emissions Trading Scheme, are exposing the sector to external pressure. New technologies – such as renewable energy, combined heat and power (CHP), or “clean coal” technologies – are emerging. Recent worldwide experiences with blackouts have once more put security of supply on the agenda. In Germany, the nuclear phase-out and decommissioning of outdated coal plants will lead to a need for replacement of more than one third of the current generation capacity by 2020. The need for replacement is an extremely important driving force for the current transformation, forcing conventional and new technologies to compete for a role in the future energy supply. The overall transformation of electricity systems is neither driven nor shaped by technical or societal modifications alone, but rather by a rich diversity of processes in the realms of technology, politics, society and economy.

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The introduction of micro CHP – the simultaneous production of heat and power in an individual building based on small energy conversion units such as Stirling and reciprocating engines or fuel cells – is of increasing political and public interest. A large-scale introduction of micro CHP would radically change the electricity system and turn consumers into power producers. At the same time, micro CHP could, if supported by favourable economic and policy conditions, represent a considerable market segment, promoting downstream innovations such as "virtual power plants", altered consumer awareness or new household energy management systems.

The diverse consequences of a widespread introduction of micro CHP for the energy market, the customers, the environment and the economy require an interdisciplinary investigation into the real benefits and barriers of micro CHP. This book not only introduces micro CHP systems and technologies, but also presents the results of the first such investigation carried out by four German research bodies. As micro CHP is being developed worldwide, experts from the five most important micro CHP countries – Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States of America –report on the energy markets, the micro CHP hard- and software, and the respective peculiarities in these countries.

This book is an indispensable source of information and analysis for decision makers in local and national authorities, energy companies, utilities, and associations, but also for lecturers and students who want to understand the principles and consequences of decentralized energy supply with Micro CHP systems.

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The introduction of micro CHP – the simultaneous production of heat and power in an individual building based on small energy conversion units such as Stirling and reciprocating engines or fuel cells – is of increasing political and public interest. A large-scale introduction of micro CHP would radically change the electricity system and turn consumers into power producers. At the same time, micro CHP could, if supported by favourable economic and policy conditions, represent a considerable market segment, promoting downstream innovations such as "virtual power plants", altered consumer awareness or new household energy management systems.

The diverse consequences of a widespread introduction of micro CHP for the energy market, the customers, the environment and the economy require an interdisciplinary investigation into the real benefits and barriers of micro CHP. This book not only introduces micro CHP systems and technologies, but also presents the results of the first such investigation carried out by four German research bodies. As micro CHP is being developed worldwide, experts from the five most important micro CHP countries – Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States of America –report on the energy markets, the micro CHP hard- and software, and the respective peculiarities in these countries.

This book is an indispensable source of information and analysis for decision makers in local and national authorities, energy companies, utilities, and associations, but also for lecturers and students who want to understand the principles and consequences of decentralized energy supply with Micro CHP systems.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XV
Micro Cogeneration Technology....Pages 1-18
Dynamics of Socio-Technical Change: Micro Cogeneration in Energy System Transformation Scenarios....Pages 19-47
The Future Heating Market and the Potential for Micro Cogeneration....Pages 49-65
Economics of Micro Cogeneration....Pages 67-86
Environmental Impacts of Micro Cogeneration....Pages 87-116
From Consumers to Operators: the Role of Micro Cogeneration Users....Pages 117-143
Micro Cogeneration — Setting of an Emerging Market....Pages 145-170
Institutional Framework and Innovation Policy for Micro Cogeneration in Germany....Pages 171-196
Embedding Micro Cogeneration in the Energy Supply System....Pages 197-218
The Micro Cogeneration Operator: A Report from Practical Experience....Pages 219-230
Micro Cogeneration in North America....Pages 231-242
Micro Cogeneration in Britain....Pages 243-263
Micro Cogeneration in Japan....Pages 265-276
Micro Cogeneration in the Netherlands....Pages 277-289
Summary and Conclusions....Pages 291-310
References, Links, Authors and Abbreviations....Pages 311-346

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The introduction of micro CHP – the simultaneous production of heat and power in an individual building based on small energy conversion units such as Stirling and reciprocating engines or fuel cells – is of increasing political and public interest. A large-scale introduction of micro CHP would radically change the electricity system and turn consumers into power producers. At the same time, micro CHP could, if supported by favourable economic and policy conditions, represent a considerable market segment, promoting downstream innovations such as "virtual power plants", altered consumer awareness or new household energy management systems.

The diverse consequences of a widespread introduction of micro CHP for the energy market, the customers, the environment and the economy require an interdisciplinary investigation into the real benefits and barriers of micro CHP. This book not only introduces micro CHP systems and technologies, but also presents the results of the first such investigation carried out by four German research bodies. As micro CHP is being developed worldwide, experts from the five most important micro CHP countries – Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States of America –report on the energy markets, the micro CHP hard- and software, and the respective peculiarities in these countries.

This book is an indispensable source of information and analysis for decision makers in local and national authorities, energy companies, utilities, and associations, but also for lecturers and students who want to understand the principles and consequences of decentralized energy supply with Micro CHP systems.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XV
Micro Cogeneration Technology....Pages 1-18
Dynamics of Socio-Technical Change: Micro Cogeneration in Energy System Transformation Scenarios....Pages 19-47
The Future Heating Market and the Potential for Micro Cogeneration....Pages 49-65
Economics of Micro Cogeneration....Pages 67-86
Environmental Impacts of Micro Cogeneration....Pages 87-116
From Consumers to Operators: the Role of Micro Cogeneration Users....Pages 117-143
Micro Cogeneration — Setting of an Emerging Market....Pages 145-170
Institutional Framework and Innovation Policy for Micro Cogeneration in Germany....Pages 171-196
Embedding Micro Cogeneration in the Energy Supply System....Pages 197-218
The Micro Cogeneration Operator: A Report from Practical Experience....Pages 219-230
Micro Cogeneration in North America....Pages 231-242
Micro Cogeneration in Britain....Pages 243-263
Micro Cogeneration in Japan....Pages 265-276
Micro Cogeneration in the Netherlands....Pages 277-289
Summary and Conclusions....Pages 291-310
References, Links, Authors and Abbreviations....Pages 311-346
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