Cogeneration – Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

Efficient on–site power systems that produce electric power and thermal energy for heat, steam or air conditioning while reducing greenhouse gases.

Cogeneration, or combined heat and power (CHP), is the production of two kinds of energy – usually electricity and heat – from a single fuel. Systems can be powered by either natural gas or diesel. They typically involve a reciprocating–engine generator that produces electricity and a heat–recovery system to capture the waste heat from the engine’s exhaust and cooling system.

By capturing and using the waste heat, these systems consume only 50 percent of the fuel burned by a central power station to provide an equivalent amount of energy. Since greenhouse gas emissions are directly related to the amount of fuel burned, CO₂ production is also cut in half.

Economical cogeneration systems based on reciprocating–engine generators area available from as small as 30 kW to more than 100 MW. By making continuous use of both electricity and thermal energy, customers can save up to 35 percent on overall energy costs.

Other benefits include:

Improved reliability of your electric supply
Easy system installation and expansion
Eligibility for CHP tax credits
Eligibility for “carbon credits” for reduced CO₂ emissions

For information or solutions for your cogeneration needs, contact your nearest Cummins Power Generation distributor.

These case histories are in PDF () format; to view them, you will need Adobe Reader® software.

Rose Poultry – Denmark (187kb)
Rose Poultry relies on Cummins Power Generation cogeneration to power production operations
American Honda Headquarters – United States (214kb)
Based on projections, it is estimated that American Honda will save more than 30% in on-campus energy expenditures each year using a cogeneration (combined heat and power) system from Cummins Power Generation.
Chicago Museum of Science and Industry – United States (188kb)
The installation of a 1.75 MW cogeneration (combined heat and power) system from Cummins Power Generation at the world–famous Chicago Museum of Science and Industry provides up to 80 percent of the museum’s heat, hot water and electricity.
De Breuck Greenhouses – Belgium (181kb)
Geert De Breuck produces about 1,650 metric tons (3.64 million pounds) of tomatoes annually with the help of a cogeneration (combined heat and power) system designed by Cummins Power Generation that generates electricity for on-site use and for sale to the power grid, while simultaneously producing heat and carbon dioxide for plant growth.
Frimley Park Hospital – Greener Power, Surrey, England, UK (258kb)
UK hospital reduces carbon footprint with combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Since achieving foundation trust status in 2005, Frimley Park Hospital — a 700-bed facility in the commuter town of Frimley, Surrey, about 30 miles from London — has made significant financial investments to enhance its acute services for the nearly 365,000 people in the North East Hampshire and West Surrey region.
INDITEX Group Logistics Centre – Spain (254kb)
Cummins Power Generation’s 2.3 MW natural gas powered cogeneration (combined heat and power) plant supplies hot water, low pressure steam and cooling to the entire distribution centre optimizing building operations, improving energy performance while also reducing CO₂ emissions.
Jinqiao Sports Center – China (188kb)
Visitors to Shanghai’s Jinqiao Sports Center can work out in comfort, thanks to a cogeneration (combined heat and power) system from Cummins Power Generation. The cogeneration system uses natural gas to power an on-site electric generator set that supplies electricity to the facility, while the waste heat from the engine is used to make hot water and heat the swimming pool and building.
Pastas Doria – Colombia (196kb)
Pastas Doria, a large Columbia based manufacturer of pasta products, turned to Cummins Power Generation for a solution to reduce their high energy and fuel costs. The cogeneration (combined heat and power) system runs 24 hours-per-day, reducing is electricity purchases by 60 percent and fossil fuel purchases by 70 percent.
Western Milling – United States (186kb)
With rates soaring for both electricity and natural gas in Southern California, Western Milling, a large animal feed supplier, decided it needed to do something to reduce its energy costs. Cummins Cal Pacific, the local distributor for Cummins Power Generation, analyzed Western Milling’s need for more economical energy and recommended a cogeneration (combined heat and power) running on natural gas.
William Floyd School District – United States (145kb)
William Floyd School District saves money on high on–peak electric rates at their Shirley, New York campus with a cogeneration (combined heat and power) system from Cummins Power Generation. The system provides the school district with the most cost–effective, low maintenance and user–friendly solution to generate nearly all of the electricity, heat and cooling during the local utility’s daily peak usage hours.

Technical Papers:

These technical papers are in PDF () format; to view them, you will need Adobe Reader® software.

Evaluating cogeneration for your facility (PT–7018, 411kb)

Solutions:

Cogeneration – Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

Cogeneration Literature:

Brochures:

Case Histories:

Technical Papers:

Global Brochures

Asia Pacific

Europe, Middle East, Africa

Technical Papers: