Distributed Power Generation

Boston Consulting Group report says emergence of distributed power generation is the
“biggest transformation to the power sector since invention of the light bulb”
 

  • Distributed Generation is producing energy where it is needed, rather than centrally.

  • Renewables and Smart Grids will reshape the Energy Sector

  • Large centralised generation is “no longer sustainable”

  • Some energy will be produced by consumers themselves through a distributed generation.

  • The new energy landscape will present an opportunity for utilities to rethink their businesses and transform themselves from commodity suppliers to energy solutions providers

A report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) demonstrates that the central power station model is now obsolete. It highlights the sheer necessity to meet the emerging energy challenges through distributed power, that is, the combination of direct point-of-use supply of renewables-based energy and “smart” power grids.  The authors point at the need for new hardware, new Information Technology and new business models to be developed and commercialised over the next 10 years.

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In 1998 IndraNet Technologies was formed to work on computing power for intelligent power networks using advanced computing needed to control  the Intelligent Power Networks (IPN's) of the future. The  compressed air engine generator is designed to work within this IPN.  Failure to deliver these engines by a third party forced IndraNet to produce its own Compressed Air Technology in the form of the nGen Systems. This work began in 2009 and is now in the process of  becoming commercial, putting the company in a potentially very good position with a significant head start in the field of Distributed Power Generation.

nGen Systems (Compressed Air, Power Generation Systems +) present unique competitive advantages - for more detail click here
Some important features  nGen Systems  -  for more detail click here

   The Smart Grid and Intelligent Power Networks will Challenge the Role of Incumbents in Every Layer of Technology and Infrastructure
  Traditional Grid   Smart Grid   Intelligent Power Networks
Communication
and control
infrastructure		 Technology: u Technology: u Technology:
Data transmission along the power grid (e.g. unidirectional control of demand)  

Multi-directional broadband-communications network

   Wireless mesh network i.e.: distributed computing.
Purpose: u  Purpose: u Purpose:
Remote (fault) sensing and substation switching   Enabling smart features such as remote performance analysis and automatic remediation, and demand-generation matching  
  • Guaranteed bandwidth per node,
  • symmetry of operation,
  • very low latencies,
  • very high scalability, etc.).
Metering: u Metering: u Metering:
Mainly manual meters   Digital smart meters (actively remote-control and remote-readout devices   The key challenge is in the communication networks required to achieve true energy network intelligence.
  Systems u Systems u Systems
Grid and energy-
management-
software solutions		 Support the operation of manual control centers
(from network control stations.
  • Monitoring and remote-sensing systems
  • Manual remote controls and switches

 

  

Provided "intelligence" that
facilitates smart-grid behavior

  • power routing and flow optimization

  • Pricing for feed-in and consumption

 

   Energy is deposited or withdrawn and where the intelligence built into the network manages the network
  • load balancing,
  • distributed energy storage management,
  • demand side management,
  • distributed supply management,
  • distributed power factor correction, in real-time, i.e. by the millisecond,
  • remote energy metering
   Power u Power u Power
Energy
infrastructure		 Is distributed to customers from central sources and power hubs
  • Tree- shaped structure
  • Slow response to changes
 

Is distributed between central and decentralized elements, sometimes switching the roles of source and consumer

  • Mesh-and-ring structure

  • Fast response to charges

 

Integration of a number of point-of-use generators into

  • non-centralised,

  • non-hierarchical, energy network (non tree-shaped structure)

  • with surplus being fed into the grid.

 

Run by grid operators
 

Competition from New Players
 

2nd Generation New Players
nGen Systems - Distributed Power Generation scalable point-of-use power generators forming Intelligent Power Networks  - IPN  (Smart Grids)

The New Business Model has power being generated at point of use initially using compressed air and a small amount of natural gas, bio fuels or other alternative fuels, but eventually (3-5yrs) being fully solar augmented.

With the clever use of the IndraNet Minder this can allow the generator to communicate with power grid in both times of high demand and excess generation. This is a  more cost effective way of getting cheaper power than is currently available.

Integrated with technology enabling re-use of waste heat, this translates into overall energy efficiencies of over 90% from primary source to end-use (instead of less than 20% and often less than 10% efficiency in current legacy systems).

Individual generators produce electricity at point o use
and communicate through IndraNet Minders to the grid


 
+ Power Generation plus + recycling of waste heat for hot water production, air conditioning, heating, refrigeration, grey water recycling,
   then expand to new classes of land vehicles, as well as marine and aircraft applications of  nGen Systems.


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