Embedded Generation Demand Side Management Economic Aspects Enviromental Aspects
   

The benefits of renewable energy extend beyond abundance and diversity. As indigenous resources, they can foster both local control and economic growth. An investment in renewable energy may contribute to the security of the local economy. With the incorporation of renewable technology into a generation portfolio, the risks associated with fluctuating fossil-fuel prices and supplies can be reduced. As the technology develops toward maturity, renewable energy generation will become more financially competitive.

   
 

With the shortening timescale that is left for the remaining fossil fuel reserves, real options needs to be secured for the future of power generation. Renewable technologies and the sensible use of fossil fuels in the short term can be used to help to secure sustainable development and stable power generation from renewable sources in the long term.

Some renewable energy generation does not need to be built on a large scale for there to be a real benefit. Due to their modular nature they can often be made of a size that will be proportional to local needs with an option of future growth if the network requires it in the future. Distributed and embedded generation can be located closer to the load on the network, which can reduce transmission and distribution costs and support weaker areas of the network. This distributed or embedded capacity can have a potentially high economic value beyond the value of the electricity generated.

  The value of some renewable generated electricity can be valuable to utility system because of the time the electricity is delivered into the network. For example, solar output tends to follow summer-peak loads in many regions and can be a significant contribution to a reliable power supply. Intermittent systems without storage such as wind will have a value primarily determined by the time of day at which electricity output is available. However in some cases, the relative merit of a particular renewable generating technology is not determined solely by a cost of energy.

The adoption of renewable generating capacity can be made particularly lucrative with the current incentives offered by the government. Renewable Obligation Certificates give an additional credit to the generating utility when it can be demonstrated that the electricity has been generated using renewable means.

If a successful programme of research is undertaken and its profile is raised, the country could develop a recognised expertise in that field. If it is promoted properly, jobs in this area could flourish with the technology and expertise being an exportable commodity.

   
 
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