Cogeneration is a method of energy production that harnesses the efficiency of multiple uses of a single fuel source Cogeneration is sometimes referred to as "combined heat and power" (CHP), since it often combines the production of useful thermal energy with the generation of electricity. By combining two otherwise independent processes into one, cogeneration allows fuel to be used more efficiently, reducing the overall cost of energy production.
The five best examples of cogeneration projects are:
1. St. Paul’s Hospital in British Columbia, Canada. This project combines natural gas and steam turbines to produce heat and electricity. By replacing fossil fuels with natural gas, St. Paul’s Hospital has been able to produce energy in a cleaner and more efficient manner.
2. The City of Seattle’s South Treatment Plant. This project combines a five-megawatt natural gas-fired reciprocating internal combustion engine with a 24-megawatt fuel cell system. The addition of the fuel cell allows the plant to produce electricity and hot water for irrigation and sanitation purposes.
3. The University of Massachusetts Boston. This project combines a gas turbine, steam turbine and engine generator to produce both electricity and heat. By doing so, the university has been able to reduce its overall energy costs.
4. The University of California, Davis. This cogeneration project utilizes a natural gas-fired reciprocating engine combined with a fuel cell to produce electricity and heat. The two systems enable the university to produce power more efficiently and reduce its overall energy costs.
5. E.ON’s plant in Italy. This project combines a combined cycle gas turbine and a steam turbine. The gas turbine provides electricity while the steam turbine produces heat, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective energy production system.