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Throughout the world there is concern over the impact of energy use on the environment (particularly CO₂ emissions) and also over the security of fossil fuel supplies. Consequently, governments and energy planners are actively encouraging alternative and cleaner forms of energy production such as renewables (e.g. wind, solar, biomass) and combined heat and power (CHP).

The use of combined heat and power (CHP) plants and renewable energy sources reduces the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere and helps to alleviate the consequent climate change. The policies of many governments suggest that the proportion of electrical energy produced by these sources will increase dramatically over the next two decades. Unlike traditional generating units, these new types of power plant are usually 'embedded' in the distribution system or 'dispersed' around the network. As a result, conventional design and operating practices are no longer applicable; for example, power protection principles have to be revised and complex economic questions need to be resolved.

Scientists and policymakers worldwide recognise that continuing to use fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) to produce useful energy with the inevitable emissions of CO₂ and other greenhouse gasses is leading to changes in the world's climate with potentially catastrophic consequences. Both mitigation of the emissions of greenhouse gases as well as adaptation to the changing environment are urgently required to manage the worst effects of climate change.

The rapid growth of wind generation has many implications for power system planning, operation and control. This would have been a considerable challenge for the old nationalised power companies; it has become an even greater challenge in today's liberalised electricity markets.

The rapid growth of wind generation has many implications for power system planning, operation and control. Network development, voltage rise, protection, monitoring and control are connection problems common to all wind power generation.