According to the International Energy Agency, power generation from non-hydro renewable sources including solar, wind and bioenergy will exceed gas and nuclear by 2016 and renewable power is expected to increase by 40% in the next five years. “Combined heat and power (CHP), also known as cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat from a single fuel source, such as: natural gas, biomass, biogas, coal, waste heat, or oil,” reports the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Cogeneration was likely first introduced by Thomas Edison in 1882 at his Pearl Street Station which combined heat and power, producing electricity and thermal energy.
While sources such as solar and wind are well known alternative energy sources, it is estimated that around 8% of world electric generation capacity comes from cogeneration power systems. In countries such as Finland (almost 40%) and Denmark (over 50%) cogen provides a substantial portion of the national power production.
Cogeneration is more a principle than a single technology, with the main advantage of CHP plants being optimal efficiency. Conventional power generation discards up to 65% of energy potential as waste heat, while cogeneration plants have a conversion efficiency of 75-90%, and are particularly useful in colder climates where the heat can be used for heating buildings and industrial processes. Another benefit lies in the proximity of the average cogen facility, compared to the 5-10% loss in transmission of electricity from typically remote traditional power stations.
The majority of today’s large industrial and commercial CHP applications are in the pulp and paper, chemical, refining, food processing, ethanol and manufacturing sectors, which require vast amounts of electricity and heat, and typically run on natural gas – generally believed to be the cleanest fossil fuel and in great supply across North America. Cogeneration systems use less fuel to produce the same amount of energy, and may be altered depending upon the needs of the energy user.
Gas-fired cogen plants are common, but biomass-fueled plants have the added benefit of using a renewable, practically inexhaustible fuel source. In a pulp mill, wood waste that would typically end up in landfills can be recycled and used as fuel for onsite cogeneration plants to provide power for the pulp mill and steam for operations. Any additional power can be exported.
Cogeneration systems can play a crucial role in meeting North American energy needs and reducing the environmental impact of power generation. As reported by www.good.is, it takes 876kwh to power a single light bulb continuously for a year, which equates to 714 pounds of coal. Quite simply, cogeneration systems require less fuel than these conventional sources as both heat and fuel are utilized to produce energy and sources such as biomass waste can be used as a fuel to further lessen the impact on the environment. Because less fuel is burned to produce energy, CHP reduces greenhouse gas emissions. CHP’s high efficiency and reliability also results in overall savings for the operations.
Cogeneration exemplifies a demonstrated, cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for delivering electricity and heat. As we transition to a more sustainable energy future, continued availability of affordable natural gas is crucial. Newer technologies such as fuel cells, with their small-scale applications, also play an important role in cogeneration’s future.
As more organizations invest in cogeneration, we will likely see a noticeable reduction in peak electrical demand. This benefits utility providers by decreasing infrastructure costs and alleviates upward pressure on electricity costs. As climate change caused by greenhouse gases becomes a growing global issue, the significance of CHP as a real way to reduce emissions is more obvious than ever.
Fortress Paper’s Chairman, Chief Executive and Founder Chadwick Wasilenkoff oversees the company’s production of specialty pulp, renewable energy, security papers and other security related products. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Wasilenkoff is an established entrepreneur with extensive capital markets experience specializing in the resource industry and currently serves as a director with various companies. For more information, visit www.fortresspaper.com. Fortress Paper has made a significant investment in cogeneration at its Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill in Thurso, Québec .
