ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a more in-depth consideration of the opportunities and challenges associated with distributed energy resources. Specifically, it examines very small-scale energy generation, that of residential micro-generation and associated technologies, which could in the future form part of a much more active, integrated and ultimately valuable demand-side. However, such systems cannot be classified as standard generation technologies with definite economic, energy security and environmental performance benefits. This is because their uptake and application are framed by a diverse array of technical, institutional, economic, behavioural and policy-related factors.
