The environmental impact of decentralised generation in an overall system context

Decentralised-generation technologies are very likely to play an important role in our future energy supply. The operational behaviour of several decentralised-generation technologies, as well as their interaction with the central power system, are being discussed and reviewed. The outcome of this analysis is then used to make correct judgements on the global environmental performance of the concept of embedded generation. In order to assess the environmental impact of a massive installation of decentralised-generation units, simulations are being performed using the code PROMIX, a very accurate model of the generation units presently existing (and anticipating those planned in the future) in Belgium. Finally, the simulation results are being discussed and some important conclusions about the environmental impact of decentralised generation can be drawn.