Combined Heat and Power (CHP), also known as cogeneration, is a clean and efficient way to generate power and thermal energy from a single source such as natural gas, oil, coal etc. It is one of the most common forms of energy recycling (when the same energy is used twice). The thermal energy recovered in a CHP system can be used for heating or cooling in industry or buildings.
By installing a CHP system designed to meet the specific thermal and electrical base loads of a facility, CHP can greatly increase the operational efficiency and decrease energy costs. CHP also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, lowers operating costs, increases reliability and power quality while also reducing grid congestion.
CHP provides:
- On-site generation of electrical and/or mechanical power.
- Waste-heat recovery for heating, cooling, dehumidification, or process applications.
- Seamless system integration for a variety of technologies, thermal applications, and fuel types into existing building infrastructure. (EPA)
Image Courtesy: www.ACEEE.org
CHP systems use one or more of the following prime movers: reciprocating engines, turbines, microturbines, fuel cells, or Stirling engines. For cooling and air conditioning applications, waste heat can be used in things like an absorption chiller, adsorption chiller or steam chiller.
Currently about 56,000 megawatts (MW) of CHP electric generation is in operation in the United States. That is up significantly from about 10,000 MW in 1980! Elsewhere in the world, CHP is being used more frequently. For example, in places like Denmark and the Netherlands more than 40% of electricity is obtained from CHP systems.
The CHP industry, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a goal to double U.S. CHP capacity between 1999 and 2010 by adding approximately 50,000 MW of new capacity. If this goal is achieved, CHP would represent about 14% of U.S. electric generating capacity this year.
Believe it or not this concept has been around for more than 100 years!
Perhaps the first modern use of energy recycling was done by Thomas Edison. His 1882 Pearl Street Station, the world’s first commercial power plant, was a combined heat and power plant, producing both electricity and thermal energy while using waste heat to warm neighboring buildings. Recycling allowed Edison’s plant to achieve approximately 50 percent efficiency. ~Wikipedia
Green Power Management is exploring CHP systems and have we compiled some promising data for several clients. This technology will allow them to save thousands of dollars while also becoming a greener company/business!
