Embedded Generators (Hansard, 25 January 1999)

§ Mr. Battle

No central records are kept of the precise amount of generating capacity embedded within the distribution networks of electricity companies in the United Kingdom, nor of the output from such capacity.

However, the capacity of generating plant other than that owned by major power producers over the latest five years for which data are available was as follows:

	GW
end December 1993	3.6
end December 1994	3.8
end December 1995	3.9
end December 1996	4.2
end December 1997	4.2

Source:

Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1998; Table 6.5.

The figures may over-estimate the amount of embedded capacity since some generating plants may not be capable of exporting electricity to the local network or local conditions may be such that there are limits on the capacity that can be exported. However, the figures may also understate the amount of embedded capacity to the extent that some of the plant belonging to major power producers is embedded.

In each of the last five years, the following quantities of electricity were supplied to the public distribution system in the United Kingdom by generators other than major power producers:

	TWh
1993	3.2
1994	3.9
1995	3.2
1996	3.2
1997	3.4

Source:

Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1998; Table 6.3.

These figures do not include electricity generated by embedded stations but consumed on the site where generated. Neither do they include generation from any embedded station owned by major power producers.

Note: Major power producers are those companies whose prime purpose is the generation of electricity. The public distribution system comprises the transmission and distribution grids in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.