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Kes McCormick: Distributed Energy Policy in EU and USA |
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An Overview of Developments in Distributed Energy
with country, state and city examples from EU and USA
Business Intelligence and Policy Instruments
"Distributed energy is not a new idea. However, advances in technology and rising awareness of major sustainability challenges are creating new opportunities. At one end of the spectrum, distributed energy refers to small and medium scale technologies that generate electricity and heat. The term is often used to describe energy generated by units that are close to the location of use (either independent of, or connected to, ‘the grid’). On the other hand, distributed energy can be understood more as a structural transformation of grid-connected electricity systems, away from highly centralised technologies towards distributed and diversified systems relying far more on renewable energy sources. This has implications for both production and consumption of electrical energy.
The purpose of this short briefing paper was to review the current status of (and expectations for) distributed energy in the EU and the USA, as well as to highlight the opportunities and challenges for a large expansion of distributed energy in the near future. "
Download the full document here |
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distributed fridge design |
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'Smart', distributed fridges stay cool by talking to each other .
CSIRO's Intelligent Energy team have developed a fridge capable of maintaining its average temperature while regulating its power consumption from renewable-energy generators, such as solar panels (photovoltaics) or wind turbines. (NB: CSIRO is Australia’s national science agency). Smart fridges work as a network of distributed fridges, each fitted with control technology that allows them to communicate with each other via a network to share and store the energy provided by renewable-power generators.
CSIRO Engineer, Sam West, says the smart fridges work as a network of distributed fridges, each fitted with control technology that allows them to communicate with each other via a network to share and store the energy provided by renewable-power generators. During the day, for example, supplies of electricity generated from photovoltaics can be interrupted by cloud cover resulting in periods of variable power supply. "These fluctuations are bad for the electricity grid," Mr West says. "Rapid variations in electricity flow can destabilise the grid and result in blackouts and other unwanted side-effects, but your fridge can help smooth out these fluctuations if it turns on and off at the right time.
"The fridges work together to decide when to cool down, and thus consume power, based on how much surplus power will be available. They are able to anticipate power shortages and change their running schedules accordingly to use as little power as possible during these times. In short, the fridges are working cooperatively to use the available power supply efficiently."
The fridges can also be used to store energy. "The surplus electricity produced by solar panels can be used to lower the fridge temperature a few degrees more than necessary to create a thermal energy store which will keep the fridge's contents cold during the night," Mr West says. "Another benefit is that by reducing the amount of electricity required during peak-demand periods, we can avoid the need to build more network infrastructure such as new power stations.
"Using less electricity is always preferable to generating more and is the simplest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Refrigeration can be very energy intensive but by harnessing renewable power this technology offers a low-emission solution to keeping food and other perishables cold."
CSIRO is currently seeking commercial partners to further develop the technology. For more information:
http://www.csiro.au/news/Smart-Fridges-on-renewable-electricity.html |
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