The electricity systems of many countries are currently undergoing a process of transformation. Market liberalization has induced major mergers and acquisitions in the electricity sector, but has also forced companies to seek out new business areas. Environmental regulations, like the Kyoto process and the European Emissions Trading Scheme, are exposing the sector to external pressure. New technologies such as renewable energy, combined heat and power (CHP), or clean coal technologies are emerging. Recent worldwide experiences with blackouts have once more put security of supply on the agenda. In Germany, the nuclear phase-out and decommissioning of outdated coal plants will lead to a need for replacement of more than one third of the current generation capacity by 2020. The need for replacement is an extremely important driving force for the current transformation, forcing conventional and new technologies to compete for a role in the future energy supply. The overall transformation of electricity systems is neither driven nor shaped by technical or societal modifications alone, but rather by a rich diversity of processes in the realms of technology, politics, society and economy.

Autorentext
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Klappentext

The introduction of micro CHP - the simultaneous production of heat and power in a single building based on small energy conversion units such as Stirling and reciprocating engines or fuel cells - is of increasing political and public interest. This book introduces into micro CHP systems and technologies, and presents the results of the first such investigation carried out by four German research bodies.

Inhalt
Micro Cogeneration Technology.- Dynamics of Socio-Technical Change: Micro Cogeneration in Energy System Transformation Scenarios.- The Future Heating Market and the Potential for Micro Cogeneration.- Economics of Micro Cogeneration.- Environmental Impacts of Micro Cogeneration.- From Consumers to Operators: the Role of Micro Cogeneration Users.- Micro Cogeneration Setting of an Emerging Market.- Institutional Framework and Innovation Policy for Micro Cogeneration in Germany.- Embedding Micro Cogeneration in the Energy Supply System.- The Micro Cogeneration Operator: A Report from Practical Experience.- Micro Cogeneration in North America.- Micro Cogeneration in Britain.- Micro Cogeneration in Japan.- Micro Cogeneration in the Netherlands.- Summary and Conclusions.- References, Links, Authors and Abbreviations.