How Does a Cogeneration Plant Work?

When a power plant generates electricity, it produces heat. If the plant releases that heat into the environment as exhaust, it represents a vast waste of energy. Most of that heat can be captured and used for other purposes. When that repurposing of heat occurs, the power plant is working as a cogeneration system.

​

The cogeneration process can increase overall energy efficiency, with typical systems ranging from 65 to 90 percent.  Facilities that use cogeneration can lower operational costs and boost their self-sufficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants.

 

Why Use Cogeneration?

There are several benefits to using cogeneration. For many the key reasons to use CHP is to save energy and costs by reducing fuel consumption.  With CHP, when fuel energy is converted into mechanical or electrical energy, the bulk of the heat that’s released when creating the electrical energy isn’t lost.  Therefore, Less fuel is needed to generate the same amount of useful work that a conventional power plant would produce.

​

That reduced fuel use has several benefits, including:

• Lower fuel costs

• Reduced fuel storage and transportation needs

• Reduced emissions – CHP is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce carbon emissions

• Less wear on machinery due to reduced pollutant exposure

 

Another benefit of Cogeneration is energy security.  Cogeneration is considered a secure power supply since it provides stand-alone power that isn’t dependent on a municipal power grid. A business that uses cogeneration can operate off-grid or easily supplement the existing power supply to meet a surge in power demands.

​

TDR has recently engaged in the planning, design and construction of “micro” cogeneration plants that can generate between 5-10 MW of power to much larger cogeneration facilities.