Embedding Micro Cogeneration in the Energy Supply System

Abstract

An important prerequisite for the large-scale introduction of micro cogeneration is its compatibility with the existing and future energy system. This involves different aspects, which we will investigate in this chapter, with the potential impact of micro cogeneration on supply security being a particular important one. Firstly we provide an overview of challenges to supply security (Sect. 9.1) and then go on to describe the impacts of micro cogeneration on both the security of fuel supply (Sect. 9.2) and on the reliability of the electricity network (Sect. 9.3). Furthermore, in the long term, the energy system has to be transformed into a largely renewable system. It is therefore important to assess whether micro cogeneration impedes or supports the use of renewable energies (Sect. 9.4). Finally, we draw conclusions (Sect. 9.5). 9.1 Challenges to Security of Energy Supply During the past few years, security of energy supply has become an increasingly important issue. Several blackouts in the United States and recently in the summer of 2003 in Europe have indicated that uninterrupted electricity supply is not guaranteed in liberalized markets. In the coming years, the security of both electricity and fuel supply will be confronted with new challenges: x High costs of power blackouts in digital economies. In the emerging digital economy, costs of electricity interruptions are significant. According to U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Distributed Energy Resources, power fluctuations and outages cost U.S. business about $50 billion a year (DER 2003). Momentary power disruptions can cost some businesses millions of dollars: semiconductor manufacturers, credit card operations, or brokerage firms for example face 2 to 6.5 million US$ typical cost per hour of interruption (GM 2003).