Combined heat and power (CHP), also known as cogeneration, is:
The concurrent production of electricity or mechanical power and useful thermal energy (heating and/or cooling) from a single source of energy.
A type of distributed generation, which, unlike central station generation, is located at or near the point of consumption.
A suite of technologies that can use a variety of fuels to generate electricity or power at the point of use, allowing the heat that would normally be lost in the power generation process to be recovered to provide needed heating and/or cooling.
CHP technology can be deployed quickly, cost-effectively, and with few geographic limitations. CHP can use a variety of fuels, both fossil- and renewable-based. It has been employed for many years, mostly in industrial, large commercial, and institutional applications. CHP may not be widely recognized outside industrial, commercial, institutional, and utility circles, but it has quietly been providing highly efficient electricity and process heat to some of the most vital industries, largest employers, urban centers, and campuses in the United States. It is reasonable to expect CHP applications to operate at 65-75% efficiency, a large improvement over the national average of about 50% for these services when separately provided.
CHP Deployment Program
The Advanced Manufacturing Office's CHP Deployment Program provides stakeholders with the resources necessary to identify CHP market opportunities and support implementation of CHP systems in industrial, federal, commercial, institutional, and other applications.
CHP R&D Program
As energy systems evolve and decarbonization becomes a global priority, there is a need to develop new CHP technologies to provide solutions to emerging challenges. A major focus of the current CHP R&D Program is the development of flexible CHP systems that can provide support services to the modern electric grid to keep it stable and secure. The R&D portfolio is also developing more efficient turbines for CHP, high power to heat ratio CHP systems, and tools and analysis for CHP in microgrids and district energy systems.