Abstract
Distributed & Cogeneration (DCG) is gaining momentum and becoming an
attractive energy option for the new millennium. Demand for power reliability
combined with increasing power shortages, inadequate power transmission and
distribution capacity, utility restructuring, volatile electricity prices,
technology advancements and public environmental policies have opened the
market for distributed and cogeneration projects and their accompanying power
electronics components. The projected worldwide dollar market for DCG power
electronics is expected to increase from $3.7 billion in 2006 to $7.6 billion
in 2011, a compounded average annual growth rate of 15.4%. The market dynamics
for these projects differ from region to region. In North America, DCG helps
to relieve the pressure from volatile power prices and ensure power
reliability. In Europe, DCG is being promoted because it provides an
environment-friendly energy source, which helps reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. In Asia, DCG contributes to the alleviation of power shortages and
helps both mature and developing nations manage their energy needs. All these
elements have contributed to a strong market for alternative power generation
technologies like gensets, small-scale gas turbines, microturbines,
photovoltaics, variable speed generators, wind turbines and fuel cells.
The power electronics market potential for these projects varies depending on
which DCG technology they serve. Wind turbines are the biggest market for
power electronics, while photovoltaics, microturbines and fuel cells will have
higher growth rates. The gas turbine and gensets markets will benefit from the
growing interest in the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) application. This
edition will also look at the market for variable speed generators.
In addition to the macro-economic trends to be discussed, there are the
particular dynamics for DCG power electronics. In traditional DCG systems,
such as gas turbines and gensets, power electronics only account for a small
percentage of the total cost. In new DCG technologies, including fuel cells,
photovoltaics, microturbines and wind turbines, power electronics account for
a much larger percentage of the total system cost. Moreover, technology
development in power electronics plays a very important role in improving
various DCG system performances, which will further drive the DCG penetration
into the electricity market.
A growing percentage of DCG systems are using power electronics to improve
power efficiency. Just a few years ago, only about 30% of wind turbines used
power electronics. This percentage has increased to over 80% in recently
installed wind turbines. Genset developers are exploring the use of variable
speed operation to increase system efficiency. The impact from increasing
demand for grid interconnection can be seen in the PV inverter market. PV
inverters have evolved from modified sine wave to true sine wave, from
stand-alone to grid-intertie. A multifunction inverter even combines battery
storage with grid-tie function to ensure power reliability. Static transfer
switches using thyristors reduce the sensing-and-switching time to less than 4
milliseconds, more than six times faster than electromechanical devices.
Electronic meters are being developed to replace electromechanical meters.
The on-going development of interconnection standards and regulations will
present both market opportunities and technology challenges for the power
electronics industry. Future research and development efforts will need to
focus on improving efficiency and reliability, communication and interface,
thermal management, reduce parts and points of failure, packaging and bringing
down cost.
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