The production of heat and the generation of electricity are inextricably linked. With conventional methods of electricity generation, however, all the heat is wasted. Cogeneration is a technique whereby use is made of the heat released during the electricity production process. An attempt is made to utilise both products (electricity and heat) to the full. In this way, energy consumption can be cut by some 30% and the release of harmful emissions into the atmosphere can be greatly reduced.
Cogeneration can be applied in many areas, e.g. in the health care sector, especially in nursing homes, homes for the elderly and in hospitals, where warmth is essential. In other sectors, offices, swimming pools, hotels and the housing sector, where heat demand is significant.
For space heating there are two options:
- Small-scale Cogeneration installations based on 100-1500 kWe gas engines. With gas engines the heat from cooling water and the heat from exhaust gases is used. The temperature may vary from 80 - 120 °C depending on the type of engine. The gas engines operate to match the demand for heat: greenhouse horticulture, swimming pools, hospitals, homes for the elderly, residential homes.
- Large-scale installations based on 1,5 - 200 MWe gas turbines. The heat from the exhaust gas of gas turbines is used to produce steam. A temperature can be reached of 150 - 500 °C. Applications: larger projects such as district heating, heating horticultural clusters.
