What is Cogeneration?

Cogeneration (also called Combined Heat and Power or CHP for short) is the generation of electricity concurrent with the recovery of heat otherwise wasted in the generation (industrial) process. The engineering principles behind this process have long been understood, and the technology has been refined and developed over the years. Today, modern cogeneration systems can achieve efficiencies of up to 90%. Cogeneration offers a large amount of flexibility and there is usually a combination of plant and fuels that can match most individual requirements.

How does cogeneration work?

Cogeneration recovers the waste heat that is always produced in electricity generation and puts it to good use rather than letting it escape into the atmosphere. In conventional power generation, about two thirds of the energy input is wasted in this way. Cogeneration can recover the majority of this waste heat, creating a far better use of resources and cost savings, and resulting in energy savings of between 20 and 40%.

Significant environmental benefits

Cogeneration contributes to a more sustainable energy future by minimizing the environmental damage resulting from commercial activities. The most obvious and well-known benefits are the carbon dioxide savings. On balance, cogeneration results in savings of up to 50% of CO2 emissions compared with conventional sources of heat and power. Reduced emissions of sulphur dioxide and particulates are further benefits.

A well-designed and operated cogeneration plant will always improve energy efficiency and significantly reduce carbon emissions. With a typical supply efficiency of between 70-95%, cogeneration is the best all-round solution for the electricity and heat production sector.

Joule Technical Sales has worked closely with major Cogeneration projects including plants in Auckland, New Zealand, Hamilton, Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Campbell River, British Colombia, and Edmonton, Alberta.