April 1, 2013
By Howard Hager
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Howard Hager, President of
Renewable Energy Design.
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Growing energy consumption is a global problem. According to
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), worldwide energy use will
jump 49 percent between 2007 and 2035.
Cogeneration
Clean energy generating Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
units -- or co-generation systems -- produce electricity using
the generator engine, converted diesel, to turn a standard
generator. The exhaust from the engine is used to make hot water
or hot air by putting a heat recovery unit on the engine's
exhaust pipe. Another method is to use fuel to heat a boiler
that makes steam which makes a steam turbine run. Turbine-based
systems can use anything from coal to biomass as fuel.
Today, a new breed of CHP
gen set ranging from micro- to large-scale multi-megawatt power
sources is emerging. Most are transportable or built into
shipping containers. Unlike solar and wind generators, their
systems can make a lot more power with less real estate and run
24 hours a day, seven days a week every day of the year.
CHP generation
requires less fuel to produce a given output, and avoids
transmission and distribution losses that occur when electricity
travels over power lines. By residing on a customer site, these
generation systems also avoid costly power transmission costs.
Because less fuel is burned to produce each unit of energy
output, CHP
reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The fuels
used are usually sustainable ones like natural gas or biomass
whose exhaust has lower emission pollutants than fossil fuels
like oil and gas, making them better for the air and
environment.
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A new breed of CHP ranges from micro- to
large-scale multi-megawatt power sources.
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There are some new generating systems running on biomass wood
chips or pellets although they are not as popular as the defacto
standard -- natural gas powered sets. The fuels from biogas
components can be reclaimed from farm products and landfills,
proving economical by using the methane gas created from food
product waste.
Until now, CHP
engines have been mostly converted diesel engines. Today,
converted marine engines, aircraft jet engines and aircraft
reciprocal radial engines all power the
CHP system, making heat from their exhausts.
Most generator systems are not sold but rather leased through
power purchase agreements (PPA) -- a procurement option that
allows a company or municipality to enjoy the benefits of
renewable energy investments without taking on the investment
risk.
Municipalities commit only to purchase the electricity
generated from the system, at the agreed upon rates, for the
life of the agreement. With CHP
being brought in under a PPA, owners can take advantage of all
incentives (tax, energy and rebates) which are then incorporated
into the rates they charge the customer. In the case of non-tax
paying entities, municipalities cannot take advantage of the
tax-based incentives extended to equipment owners but through
reduced rates they can essentially tap into them. These systems
have an availability of 98 to 99.99 percent and cut energy costs
significantly. Further, when the grid goes down, power is still
flowing.
Fuel Cells
More recently, fuel cell technology has made its way into the
market. Fuel cells are not just the cleanest form of power
generation but they are quiet (no moving parts) and can generate
400 kW to 5,000 kW of electric power per unit using natural gas,
hydrogen and even biomass (methane) as input fuel.
In a fuel cell, no fossil fuel combustion takes place. This
clean energy CHP
solution easily meets the most stringent emissions requirements
in the world. The only byproduct of the process is heat.
CHP fuels, as well as the generator sets themselves, are
getting more efficient. Having the ability to make heat (or
through absorption chiller systems: cooling) while generating
clean electric power is the future of sustainable and renewable
clean energy on a 24x7 basis. CHP may well make its way into
homes and businesses in some form in the future.
About the Author
Howard Hager is President of Renewable Energy Design, a green
energy power provider and established integrator in Puerto Rico
and the Northeastern United States. Hager is a renewable energy
technologist, implementer, and consultant working closely with
government agencies, K-12 schools, retail organizations, and
corporations.
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http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/chp-new-generation-renewable-power-technology/2013-04-01