What is Cogeneration?
Cogeneration refers to the simultaneous production of two different forms of energy at the same power plant. By recovering residual heat created when generating electricity, cogeneration produces electrical and heat energy simultaneously, from a single energy source. We design, build, finance, operate and maintain cogeneration power plants and their related systems, no matter the size, technology (internal combustion, gas turbine, steam turbine) or energy source (biogas, gas, biomass, coal).
What are the advantages of cogeneration power plants?
- They produce electricity where it is needed, reducing network losses by 2.5% to 7%.
- They deliver a continuous, high-quality stream of heat and electricity, guaranteeing an efficient and secure energy supply. This is why they are so popular with hospitals, where they are also used in back-up power units.
- And, cogeneration plants offer lower CO2 emissions: 14% compared to gas-fired, 24% compared to oil-fired, and 28% compared to coal-fired.
Business Case
Through the cogeneration process, Veolia supplies stable, continuous, and high-quality industrial steam to the industrial customers in the park. All the electricity generated is integrated into the national power grid, ensuring environmental emissions are below the local average standards. The Phase I capacity includes two 130-ton/hour boilers and one 25 MW generator set. In 2013, the Phase II of the thermal power plant was completed, achieving a final capacity of 520 tons/hour of steam and 50 MW of electricity generation.
This project is the only approved distributed energy pilot project by the Sichuan provincial government. The existing thermal power plant has been operational since 2010, equipped with two 150-ton/hour circulating fluidized bed boilers and a total installed capacity of 60 MW. The maximum heating capacity is 220 tons/hour, supplying energy to 32 end-users within the zone through a 17-kilometer steam pipeline.
How & Why video: Electrical flexibility
