The use of combined heat and power (CHP) plants and renewable energy
sources reduces the amount of greenhouse gases released into the
atmosphere and helps to alleviate the consequent climate change. The
policies of many governments suggest that the proportion of electrical
energy produced by these sources will increase dramatically over the
next two decades. Unlike traditional generating units, these new types
of power plant are usually 'embedded' in the distribution system or
'dispersed' around the network. As a result, conventional design and
operating practices are no longer applicable; for example, power
protection principles have to be revised and complex economic questions
need to be resolved.
This book, intended for both students and practising engineers,
addresses all the issues pertinent to the implementation of embedded
generation. Much of the material was originally developed for the UMIST
MSc/CPD course in Electrical Power Engineering so there is a strong
tutorial element. However, since this subject is evolving very rapidly,
the authors also discuss the technical and commercial consequences of
the very high penetration of embedded generation that are to be expected
in the years ahead.