Small Scale Power Generation Handbook: Towards Distributed Energy Systems

Provides an overview of various small scale sustainable energy technologies, with examples and a clear focus on technological and research issues

Beginning with an overview of the special characteristics, challenges, and opportunities of small scale power plants, this book goes on to provide detailed assessments of a wide variety of renewable energy generation technologies. Solar, biomass, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy generation are all addressed, with assessment of their performance, availability, reliability unique requirements for operation, maintenance, control, and grid integration.

Combining technological advances with consideration of economic and application challenges, the Small Scale Power Generation Handbook is an essential resource for graduate students, academic researchers, and industry professionals involved in the design and integration of small scale power generation for sustainable systems.

• Examines a range of cutting-edge renewable small scale generation systems, from photovoltaic to hydropower and bioenergy
• Assesses the specific advantages and disadvantages of operation, maintenance, integration, and control alongside conventional grid
• Applies technological insights to practical scenarios, case studies, and applications, supporting real-world improvements in sustainability and transition

Umberto Desideri is Professor, Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering (DESTEC), University of Pisa, Italy, is a leading expert in thermal machines, energy systems, and clean energy technologies. He has been a Full Professor of Thermal Machines at the University of Pisa since 2014 and served as Head of Department from 2016 to 2020. Professor Umberto Desideri is a Fellow of ASME, a senior editor of Applied Energy, and has held editorial roles in several top international journals. He has coordinated and contributed to numerous major EU and national research projects in hydrogen, fuel cells, renewables, carbon capture, energy storage, and sustainable power generation, while supervising many master's theses and PhD scholars. With rich experience in international collaboration and knowledge dissemination, Professor Desideri has played a key role in advancing research and education related to clean and efficient energy technologies, bridging fundamental research with practical applications.

Lorenzo Ferrari is a full-time professor of energy conversion systems at the University of Pisa, Italy. He has over 25 years of research experience in modeling, optimizing, and controlling energy systems. His main research areas include renewable energy, distributed generation, waste heat recovery, hydrogen technology, and energy storage. He has authored more than 200 scientific publications, including journal articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters. Additionally, he has served as a guest editor for numerous special issues and is an associate editor for several academic journals.