The Future of Distributed Power Generation: New technologies, changing economics and the impact of fuel cells

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)