Cost Projections Suggest That Certain Microgeneration Technologies Will Produce Competitive Energy By 2020.DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c88070) has announced the addition of Market Opportunities in the Microgeneration Sector to their offering. With energy efficiency a common feature across political agendas, utilities are faced with having to address the microgeneration issue in the current context of increasing energy prices and environmental awareness. This brief considers the various available technologies and whether current and future microgeneration markets present an opportunity or a threat for the large utilities. Scope * Knowledge of the main types of microgeneration technologies and how they deliver more CO2 reduction than most other home energy efficiency measures * Awareness of the precarious state of the European microgeneration market, and how it could become part of a mass market decentralised Adj. 1. decentralised - withdrawn from a center or place of concentration; especially having power or function dispersed from a central to local authorities; "a decentralized school administration" decentralized energy system * Reasons why the UK market displays such strong medium term potential, focussing on cost-effectiveness, CO2 reduction and energy generation * Insight into how and why future utility profits could be significantly influenced by the success of their engagement with microgeneration Highlights of this title Microgeneration is currently a cost-inefficient and unreliable alternative to large scale offshore wind generation and a range of key constraints CONSTRAINTS - A language for solving constraints using value inference. ["CONSTRAINTS: A Language for Expressing Almost-Hierarchical Descriptions", G.J. Sussman et al, Artif Intell 14(1):1-39 (Aug 1980)]. is currently affecting its wide-scale deployment. Yet, with greater commercialisation, microgeneration has the potential to become part of a commercial mass market decentralised energy system Following a range of government grant initiatives, the small UK household microgeneration sector has seen rapid engagement. Cost projections suggest that certain microgeneration technologies will produce competitive energy by 2020, with the potential to deliver up to 14% CO2 reductions and 30-40% of the UKs total electricity demands by 2050 As it stands, microgeneration will achieve a fraction of its full potential. It must be facilitated as part of an overall programme which embraces change affecting all aspects of the energy generation / usage model. Only then will future utility profits be significantly influenced by the success of their engagement with the microgeneration market Key reasons to purchase this title * Gain a new and accurate perspective of the nascent nascent /nas·cent/ (nas´ent) (na´sent) 1. being born; just coming into existence. 2. just liberated from a chemical combination, and hence more reactive because uncombined. microgeneration market, its key limitations and its medium/longer term potential * Understand the likely margin impact of taking a position and exploiting market opportunities early on in the decentralised energy value chain * Re-assess your company's strategic positioning vis-a-vis the microgeneration market, and amend your business strategy accordingly Content Outline: OUR VIEW CATALYST SUMMARY SOURCES ANALYSIS There are currently seven types of mainstream microgeneration technologies in use Microgeneration is the decentralized de·cen·tral·ize v. de·cen·tral·ized, de·cen·tral·iz·ing, de·cen·tral·iz·es v.tr. 1. To distribute the administrative functions or powers of (a central authority) among several local authorities. generation of zero or low-carbon heat and power Solar photovoltaic The generation of voltage by a material that is exposed to light in the visible and invisible ranges. See photoelectric and photovoltaic cell. systems use energy from the sun to create electricity Solar thermal systems Noun 1. solar thermal system - a system that converts sunlight into heat solar collector, solar dish, solar furnace - a concave mirror that concentrates the rays of the sun; can produce high temperatures harness energy from the sun to provide domestic hot water Ground source heat pumps heat pump: see air conditioning. heat pump Device for transferring heat from a substance or space at one temperature to another at a higher temperature. extract stored solar heat from the ground Biomass biomass Weight or total quantity of living organisms of one animal or plant species (species biomass) or of all the species in the community (community biomass), commonly referred to as a unit area or volume of the habitat. fuel involves burning wood or other organic materials to produce energy Wind energy refers to energy obtained from turbine turbine, rotary engine that uses a continuous stream of fluid (gas or liquid) to turn a shaft that can drive machinery. A water, or hydraulic, turbine is used to drive electric generators in hydroelectric power stations. engines powered by wind The Stirling engine Stirling engine, an external combustion reciprocating engine having an enclosed working fluid that is alternately compressed and expanded to operate a piston, thus converting heat from a variety of sources into mechanical energy. combined heat and power boiler boiler, device for generating steam. It consists of two principal parts: the furnace, which provides heat, usually by burning a fuel, and the boiler proper, a device in which the heat changes water into steam. uses a heat engine to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat A fuel cell produces electricity through a chemical reaction similar to that found in a battery In Europe, microgeneration is a nascent and fragile market Microgeneration is currently a cost-inefficient and unreliable alternative to large-scale offshore wind generation A range of constraints currently prevents the wide-scale deployment of microgeneration Insufficient optimization optimization Field of applied mathematics whose principles and methods are used to solve quantitative problems in disciplines including physics, biology, engineering, and economics. of the legislative and regulatory environment is a key limiting factor A factor or condition that, either temporarily or permanently, impedes mission accomplishment. Illustrative examples are transportation network deficiencies, lack of in-place facilities, malpositioned forces or materiel, extreme climatic conditions, distance, transit or overflight rights, With greater commercialization, microgeneration could become part of a mass market decentralized energy system In the UK, microgeneration technologies display strong medium-term potential The household microgeneration sector has seen rapid engagement but is still relatively small The Low Carbon Buildings Programme provides grants of up to PS2,500 per property Microgeneration technologies could produce cost competitive energy by 2020 Microgeneration could deliver significant CO2 benefits By 2050, 30% to 40% of the UKs electricity demands could be met through microgeneration technologies Utilities future profits may be significantly influenced by the success of their engagement with microgeneration As it stands, microgeneration is neither a threat nor an opportunity For microgeneration to reach its full potential, large utilities will have to get involved Microgeneration could be far too important to ignore Utilities recognize the future commercial, environmental and strategic potential of microgeneration technologies APPENDIX Further reading Ask the analyst Our consulting Disclaimer List of Figures Companies Mentioned: * E.ON E.ON Energy On (German energy company) For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c88070 Source: Datamonitor |
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