Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Communication links
Service
providers
Energy
markets
Tuesday, 04
September 2012
Max 33 °C
Min 12 °C
Grid
operations
Time
Bulk generation
plants
Transmission
system
Distribution
system
Customers
Electrical
infrastructure
Figure 2.1
Smart-grid conceptual model of communication and energy links
capacities, efficiencies and applications vary widely [78]. On a country-by-country
basis CHP benefits are strongly influenced by the costs and emissions associated to
the fuel employed in the power generation mix [79]. For instance, since coal and gas
dominate the UK fuel mix, regulators set the goal to have installed a CHP capacity
of 10 GW
el
by 2010 [80]. Nonetheless, by end of 2009 the CHP capacity was just at
5.5 GW
el
[81]. Studies are finding most current policies for connection of DERs to the
grid fail to sufficiently incentivise their implementation [58]. It seems that revising
the regulatory framework and feed-in tariffs in each country needs to be addressed
and periodically reviewed; especially in countries where the generation mix is mostly
based on thermal plants [82]. Otherwise, the deployment of embedded technologies
with the goal to curtail CO
2
emissions will just be wishful thinking.
During the last 40 years, final energy consumption in the domestic sector has been
steadily increasing in the UK [81]. Consequently, improving energy delivery for this
group of consumers could significantly contribute to maximise resources. Still, it is
important to not forget that lucrative CHP solutions depend greatly on the constant
presence of thermal and electric power demand throughout much of the year [83,84].
This is a key factor as to why, when compared against intermittent renewable sources,
CHPs have an important advantage by having a higher capacity factor [85].
Some additional factors that support the use of CHP devices are [86]:
Projects
do
not
need
capital-intensive
heat
networks
to
increase
their
●
applicability;
Most fuels are widely distributed and have stable prices;
●
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