Power To The People - Join The Wade Foundation Today!

The WADE Foundation is a U.S. based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the leading global NGO focused on spreading sustainable decentralized energy technologies around the world. Over 1.5 billion people around the world lack access to modern power systems and over a billion people suffer with highly unreliable power supplies. Decentralized energy is the key to cleaner and more efficient power access in developing as well as developed countries, energy security, and a more diverse and reliable power system based on local resources. Access to clean energy leads to profound improvements in health, education, safety, and economic prosperity. We need your help to carry out our mission, so please consider joining the WADE Foundation and contributing to our efforts. As a member you will receive a number of outstanding benefits,

  • Exclusive weekly updates on the latest projects, technologies and policies
  • Access to the global decentralized energy community and exclusive social networks of experts in the field
  • Subscription to Cogeneration and On-Site Power Production Magazine
  • Opportunity to establish local WADE Chapters and represent WADE at regional events
  • Discounts on attendance at conferences and meetings
  • A membership certificate suitable for framing

Most importantly, your contribution will help pave the way for a more sustainable tomorrow.

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Term

Acronym

Notes

Decentralized Energy

DE

Electricity production at or near the point of use, irrespective of size, technology or fuel used - both off-grid and on-grid. DE includes high efficiency cogeneration (CHP), on-site renewable energy and industrial energy recycling and on-site power.

Renewables/ Renewable Energy

RE

Energy sources that are naturally replensihed in the short term, including non-carbon technologies such as solar energy, hydropower and wind as well as carbon-neutral technologies such as biomass. There is considerable overlap between renewables and DE. When renewables are used to generate power where it is required renewables can be said to fall within the DE definition. On the other hand large wind farms, that are built remotely from where the electricity is used, do not fall under the DE definition.

Distributed Generation

DG

Often used interchangeably with DE although sometimes DG refers to power only whereas DE includes thermal energy and electrical power.

Microgeneration


Very small scale applications of DE- usually at the scale of an individual home.

District Energy (District Heating/Cooling)

DE/DH/DC

Production of steam, hot water or chilled water, or a combination of the three, at a single central plant for distribution to other buildings through a network of pipes. The term is closely related to DE. It often, but not always, overlaps with DE. When district energy systems employ waste heat from electricity generation to supply heating/cooling networks they can be considered DE. In some cases, however, district energy plants are used in heat only applications in which case they are not considered DE.

Combined Heat and Power

CHP

The simultaneous production of both electricity and useful heat. CHP can be on any scale from very large applications in refineries to tiny machines in individual homes. CHP is one type of DE.

Cogeneration


Term used interchangeable with 'combined heat and power'. Cogeneration is the simultaneous production of both electricity and useful heat. Cogeneration can be on any scale from very large applications in refineries to tiny machines in individual homes.

Combined Cooling Heating and Power/Cooling Heating and Power

CCHP/
CHP

CCHP is the simultaneous production of electricity and useful heat and cooling (usually by a heat powered chiller). CCHP is one type of DE.

Trigeneration


Term used interchangeably with CCHP. Trigeneration is the simultaneous production of electricity and useful heat and cooling.

Uninterupted Power Supply

UPS

Term often used to describe on-site power, especially in the context of emergenecy power for computers. The term is usually associated with fossil-fired generators and implies power only applications, however it can also refer to applications where waste heat is recovered in which case greater environmental benefits would be realized.

Backup Generator


Usually associated with fossil-fired generators and implies power only applications, however it can also refer to applications where waste heat is recovered in which case greater environmental benefits would be realized. Renewable technologoiges are also increasingly being employed to provide backup power.

Captive Power


Term closely related to DE often used to describe on-site power. The term can imply either power only or cogeneration applications.

Embedded Generation


Closely related term often used to describe on-site power. The term can imply either power only or cogeneration applications.

Micro grid


A collection of DE technologies grouped together in a specific area and often connected at a single point to the larger grid.

Distributed Resource

DR

Often used interchangeably with 'Decentralized Energy' or 'Distributed Generation' but because a resource can also be either supply or demand side DR also includes conservation measures at the point of consumption.