Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Applications
CHP technology exists in a wide variety of energy-intensive facility types and sizes nationwide, including:
- Industrial manufacturers – chemical, refining, ethanol, pulp and paper, food processing, glass manufacturing
- Institutions – colleges and universities, hospitals, prisons, military bases
- Commercial buildings – hotels and casinos, airports, high-tech campuses, large office buildings, nursing homes
- Municipal – district energy systems, wastewater treatment facilities, K-12 schools
- Residential – multi-family housing, planned communities
A number of site-specific factors will determine if CHP may be a good technical and economic fit for your facility. Answer a few simple questions to determine if your facility is a good candidate for CHP.
Benefits of CHP
CHP plays an important role in meeting the United States’ energy needs as well as in reducing the environmental impact of power generation, including:
Efficiency Benefits
CHP requires less fuel to produce a given energy output, and avoids transmission and distribution losses that occur when electricity travels over power lines.
Reliability Benefits
CHP can be designed to provide high-quality electricity and thermal energy to a site regardless of what might occur on the power grid, decreasing the impact of outages and improving power quality for sensitive equipment. CHP also provides business continuity and energy independence.
Environmental Benefits
Because less fuel is burned to produce each unit of energy output, CHP reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Economic Benefits
CHP can save facilities considerable money on their energy bills due to its high efficiency and can provide a hedge against unstable energy costs.