This interesting book aims to contrast the existing and developing generating systems typically in the range 1kW to 2MW for use in hospitals, supermarkets, leisure centres, government and commercial building and domestic housing generally and for direct connection to the grid.COMPLETE CONTENTS Renewable energy in the UK - an issue of scale Wind turbines - a reviewof smaller units Run of river hydro for the UK and overseas Small hydro for remote areas - an international view Micro CHP - energy services and smart metering Micro combined heat and power Stirling engine based microenergy systems Running microturbines on biogas Community biomass gasification CHP Really small micro-scale generation (PV) The 'RICT' engine in micro energy and CHP systems Pressurized hybrid fuel cell system Reinventing electricity distribution Micro Energy Systems will be useful to project developers, power generators, local government and building services engineers in the industrial and commercial sector in the UK and throughout the world.

The introduction of micro CHP – the simultaneous production of heat and power in a single building based on small energy conversion units such as Stirling and reciprocating engines or fuel cells – is of increasing political and public interest. This book introduces into micro CHP systems and technologies, and presents the results of the first such investigation carried out by four German research bodies.

With its inclusion of the fundamentals, systems and applications, this reference provides readers with the basics of micro energy conversion along with expert knowledge on system electronics and real-life microdevices. The authors address different aspects of energy harvesting at the micro scale with a focus on miniaturized and microfabricated devices. Along the way they provide an overview of the field by compiling knowledge on the design, materials development, device realization and aspects of system integration, covering emerging technologies, as well as applications in power management, energy storage, medicine and low-power system electronics. In addition, they survey the energy harvesting principles based on chemical, thermal, mechanical, as well as hybrid and nanotechnology approaches. In unparalleled detail this volume presents the complete picture -- and a peek into the future -- of micro-powered microsystems.

Microgrids: Advanced Control Methods and Renewable Energy System Integration demonstrates the state-of-art of methods and applications of microgrid control, with eleven concise and comprehensive chapters. The first three chapters provide an overview of the control methods of microgrid systems that is followed by a review of distributed control and management strategies for the next generation microgrids. Next, the book identifies future research directions and discusses the hierarchical power sharing control in DC Microgrids. Chapter 4 investigates the demand side management in microgrid control systems from various perspectives, followed by an outline of the operation and controls of the smart microgrids in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 deals with control of low-voltage microgrids with master/slave architecture. The final chapters explain the load-Frequency Controllers for Distributed Power System Generation Units and the issue of robust control design for VSIs, followed by a communication solution denoted as power talk. Finally, in Chapter 11, real-time implementation of distributed control for an autonomous microgrid system is performed. - Addresses issues of contemporary interest to practitioners in the power engineering and management fields - Focuses on the role of microgrids within the overall power system structure and attempts to clarify the main findings relating to primary and secondary control and management at the microgrid level - Provides results from a quantified assessment of benefits from economic, environmental, operational, and social point-of-views - Presents the hierarchical control levels manifested in microgrid operations and evaluates the principles and main functions of centralized and decentralized control

- This derivative volume stemming from content included in our seminal Power Electronics Handbook takes its chapters related to renewables and establishes them at the core of a new volume dedicated to the increasingly pivotal and as yet under-published intersection of Power Electronics and Alternative Energy. While this re-versioning provides a corollary revenue stream to better leverage our core handbook asset, it does more than simply re-package existing content. Each chapter will be significantly updated and expanded by more than 50%, and all new introductory and summary chapters will be added to contextualize and tie the volume together. Therefore, unlike traditional derivative volumes, we will be able to offer new and updated material to the market and include this largely original content in our ScienceDirect Energy collection. - Due to the inherently multi-disciplinary nature of renewables, many engineers come from backgrounds in Physics, Materials, or Chemical Engineering, and therefore do not have experience working in-depth with electronics. As more and more alternative and distributed energy systems require grid hook-ups and on-site storage, a working knowledge of batteries, inverters and other power electronics components becomes requisite. Further, as renewables enjoy broadening commercial implementation, power electronics professionals are interested to learn of the challenges and strategies particular to applications in alternative energy. This book will bring each group up-to-speed with the primary issues of importance at this technological node. - This content clarifies the juncture of two key coverage areas for our Energy portfolio: alternative sources and power systems. It serves to bridge the information in our power engineering and renewable energy lists, supporting the growing grid cluster in the former and adding key information on practical implementation to the latter. - Provides a thorough overview of the key technologies, methods and challenges for implementing power electronics in alternative energy systems for optimal power generation - Includes hard-to-find information on how to apply converters, inverters, batteries, controllers and more for stand-alone and grid-connected systems - Covers wind and solar applications, as well as ocean and geothermal energy, hybrid systems and fuel cells

This book addresses important topical questions of microgrids and local energy systems. It begins with an investigation of the electrical protection of microgrids followed by a study of the power converters used and the utilization of multi-objective optimization for the selection of component ratings. Subsequent chapters address peer-to-peer energy trading in microgrids, local district heating and cooling systems, neighborhood generators used to supplement the utility electricity supplies in Iraq, and regulatory impediments to micro-wind generation in the United States.