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. |