Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is high efficiency technology strongly backed by the UK Government, which has set a target of 10,000 MW of installed CHP capacity by 2010.

Figures show that every 1 MW of CHP operating in the UK helps to reduce carbon emissions by between 600 and 800 tonnes per year.  This saves over 4 million tonnes of carbon annually, representing one of the largest single carbon reduction measures in the Government’s Climate Change Programme.

Mitsubishi Electric has produced an industry guide discussing the developing technologies which make this process a viable alternative for the future.  CHP is a very energy efficient way to produce power and heat, which can use either fossil fuels or renewable sources.  These systems can convert up to 90% of the energy in the fuel into electrical power and heat.
 
“CHP has the potential to make a major contribution to the UK’s carbon emission reduction campaign.  It is the simultaneous production of usable heat and electricity in a single process.  The heat generated from the production of electricity can be delivered in a number of ways, including warm water, or through steam,” said Commercial Director Donald Daw.

“Combined heat and power is not a new idea, having been in use for well over 50 years.  There are however, a number of recent technologies that are developing to help produce simultaneous heat and electricity.”

New developing technologies include using biomass or fuel cells as an alternative to fossil fuels.  Generally, the capital costs for CHP will be higher than for conventional plant, but it does offer long-term savings.

Systems can be run on fossil fuels such as gas or diesel, but they can also be converted to use renewable energy sources such as biogas from waste.  Technologies currently in most widespread use are steam turbines, gas turbines and diesel-driven turbines.

In its simplest form, a CHP system employs a gas turbine, an engine or a steam turbine to drive an alternator and the resulting electricity can be used either wholly or partially on-site.  The heat produced during power generation is recovered, usually in a heat recovery boiler and can be used to raise steam for a number of industrial processes, to provide hot water for space heating, or for cooling where appropriate equipment has been installed.

“As with all equipment, maintenance of CHP systems is very important as it will help ensure efficient operation and reduce down-time.  Specialist knowledge is required and often the suppliers of CHP will also contract to carry out regular maintenance, on the basis of contracted performance levels,” said Mr Daw.  Anything else in the industry,” ended Cole.