Micro combined heat and power (micro cogeneration) is the simultaneous generation of heat (or cold) and power on the level of individual buildings, based on small energy conversion units (below 15 kWel) which are usually fuelled by natural gas or heating oil. The heat is used for space and water heating inside the building, whilst electricity is used within the building or fed into the public electricity grid (Fig. 4.1). With the help of modern communication technologies, micro cogeneration could also be controlled centrally and integrated into an ensemble of other generation or load management technologies, forming a so called “virtual power plant”.
This chapter looks at the dynamics of micro cogeneration diffusion, with a particular focus on the German market. We explore structural and functional elements of the related innovation system and analyze the functions and factors that promote or prevent the emergence of such an innovative technology within the existing German energy system. Micro cogeneration was chosen as the subject of the case study because it offers a rewarding opportunity for studying the conditions facing innovations in potentially unfavorable regime contexts (Pehnt et al. 2006; Praetorius et al. 2008).
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(2009). Micro Cogeneration. In: Innovation for Sustainable Electricity Systems. Sustainability and Innovation. Physica-Verlag HD. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7908-2076-8_4
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