TABLE OF CONTENTS There are many varied types of generating plant connected to electrical distribution networks ranging from well established equipment such as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units and internal combustion reciprocating engines to more recent types of generation such as wind farms and photovoltaics. In the future some of the many emerging technologies, such as fuel cells, flywheel storage, micro-CHP using small gas turbines or Stirling engines, may become commercially significant. Understanding the interaction of embedded generation with the power system requires an appreciation of the technology of the prime movers, the characteristics of the energy sources and also the conditions under which the embedded generation plant is operated. In deregulated electricity supply systems it is also important to recognise that the owners of embedded generation plant (who will not be the distribution utility in many cases) will respond to pricing and other commercial signals to determine whether to invest in such plant and then how to operate it. This chapter is intended to provide a brief introduction to several of the important embedded generation technologies and to emphasise the multidisciplinary aspects of embedded generation.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is, at present, the most significant type of generation embedded in distribution systems. CHP, sometimes known as cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of electrical power and useful heat. Generally the electrical power is consumed inside the host premises or plant of the CHP facility, although any surplus or deficit is exchanged with the utility distribution...
