The Washington Informer
Summary
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)* estimates that nearly two-thirds of the energy used for electricity production, transmission and delivery is lost before it reaches a customer’s doorstep. While emerging technologies may enhance efficient electricity production, other technologies can be applied to further improve efficiency and thus maximize the amount of energy that can be productively used.
Combined heat and power (CHP), or cogeneration, refers to solutions that generate onsite electricity and produce thermal energy. Thermal energy is a captured byproduct of electric generation which, at conventional power plants, is generally a lost or “wasted” energy resource that is discharged to the atmosphere. Capturing this thermal energy reduces the fuel needed for conventional heating systems that would otherwise rely on electricity, natural gas or oil.
Perhaps the most significant benefit of CHP is its contribution to overall energy resiliency. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity describes the U.S. electric grid as a multi-operator ecosystem spanning over 9,200 electric generating units and at least 600,000 miles of transmission lines. Increasing demands on the aging power grid place it under periods of high stress that can potentially result in more frequent downtimes. CHP technology can help ensure uninterrupted operation for critical facilities even during large-scale power outages.
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