Combined heat and power
Electricity production and heat production go hand in hand. Producing electricity usually generates heat, so appliances that produce heat and power simultaneously, can reach very high levels of efficiency.
The heat they produce keeps a building warm and also provides hot water for washing and cleaning. Their electricity production can be used inside the building or fed into the electric grid. By using their fuel economically, cogeneration of heat and electricity contributes to reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Even greater CO2 cuts are possible, by using green gases and fuels.
Micro-CHP unit
Fuel cell
The use of heat from combined heat and power technology is particularly efficient at small scale. So-called micro-CHP and mini-CHP can be used in commercial and public buildings, apartments, individual houses and in some cases even in small collectives of houses. Several CHP technologies are available, they use engines or fuel cells. Fuel cells achieve very high energy efficiency levels and already work with 100% hydrogen.
Benefits
- Ready for green gases.
- CO2 reductions thanks to low fuel requirements.
- Electricity efficiency: by generating electricity at the point of use,
- CHP avoids losses typical of central power production and distribution.
- Heat efficiency of small CHP systems: heat generation at point of use avoids heat transport losses.
- Economic savings: reduce electricity purchase and allowing the sale of surplus electricity back to the grid.