Electricity supply industry employment

A future trend in the electricity supply industry, much discussed, is a move towards distributed (local) generation. This might be based on combined heat and power (CHP) schemes that would employ gas microturbines or gas engines, on solar energy (photovoltaic, solar—thermal) or on wind turbines. Most of the renewables are best utilized on a small-scale, local basis. Distributed generation is applicable in both semi-urban areas and in remote locations and may be the answer for many of those who currently are isolated from mains supplies. Sadly, often these people cannot afford such technology and their economic position is unlikely to improve until they do have access to electricity and fuels. 

Figure 6-4. Pre-Restructuring Employment in the United Kingdom Electric Supply Industry...

Germany. The Statistisches Bundesamt, the federal West German statistical office, publishes statistics in Die Industrie der Bundesrepublik 30), Part I gives monthly statistics of employment and unemployment, hours and wages, and fuel and electricity supplies and consumption by individual industries. Part II gives monthly production statistics for mining, fuel and power, and the main industries. Chemicals included are sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, chlorine, caustic soda, synthetic ammonia. 

In contrast to BFCs, the electrosynthetic production of industrially important commodities (such as formate and methanol) is an alternative application of an enzymatic bioelectrode, whereby electrical energy is supplied to a bioelectrode to enzymatically produce a desired chemical. The required electrical energy could be supplied from a renewable source (such as a solar cell) and employed to remediate specific environments [i.e. formate could be produced from CO2). 

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