What is cogeneration and CHP?
Combined heat and power (CHP). Cooling, heating, and power. District heating and cooling. District energy systems. Cogeneration. Buildings cooling, heating, and power. These are similar terms for a single concept of generating electricity while recovering waste heat. In converting fuel to electricity, approximately 60% to 70% of the energy input is released to the environment during the conversion process and not used for productive purposes. Technologies that use this “wasted energy” for making steam, heating water, chilling water or refreshing a desiccant humidity control device are known as CHP systems. CHP makes greater use of the fuel inputs by producing multiple products – electricity and usable thermal energy. The average efficiency of the typical power plant in the U.S. is approximately 33 percent; however, CHP systems can reach efficiency levels of 70 percent or greater. CHP also results in reduced emissions since less fuel is burned to meet the same energy requirement.
