Distributed Generation (Energy Engineering)

Throughout the world there is concern over the impact of energy use on the environment (particularly CO₂ emissions) and also over the security of fossil fuel supplies. Consequently, governments and energy planners are actively encouraging alternative and cleaner forms of energy production such as renewables (e.g. wind, solar, biomass) and combined heat and power (CHP).

The economics and locations of sustainable energy sources have meant that many of these new generators are connected into distribution networks. It is recognized that the information flow and control of distribution networks is inadequate for these future low-carbon electricity supply systems. The future distribution network will change its operation from passive to active, and the distributed generators will be controlled to support the operation of the power system. In many countries this transformation of electricity supply is managed through energy markets and privately owned, regulated transmission and distribution systems.

This book discusses the connection of generation to distribution networks and then moves on to consider how sustainable generation can be fully integrated into the operation of the power system. Both technical and economic aspects are addressed. It is written for later-year undergraduate and postgraduate students studying courses on energy. The book has four tutorial chapters (with examples and questions) to provide fundamental material for those without a strong electrical engineering background.

Nick Jenkins was at the University of Manchester (UMIST) from 1992 to 2008. He then moved to Cardiff University where he is now Professor of Renewable Energy. He is a Fellow of the IET, IEEE and Royal Academy of Engineering and has been the Shimizu Visiting Professor at Stanford University.

Janaka Ekanayake is a Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University. Prior to this he was a Professor at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He has more than 15 years of research experience in the field of renewable energy.

Goran Strbac is Professor of Electrical Energy Systems at Imperial College, London. He joined Imperial College in 2005 after 11 years at the University of Manchester (UMIST) and 10 years of industrial and research experience.