Section Menu

• Microgeneration Contacts

Microgeneration: Cogeneration Technologies

(Combined Heat and Power (CHP), Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells)

The following is a description of the current state of technology.  For analysis of technology potential, please see 'Related Documents'.  For a list of current installers and  products, see the 'Accredited Installers and Products' page of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (under 'External Links').

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

CHP is a highly fuel-efficient energy technology, which puts to use waste heat produced as a by-product of the electricity generation process. CHP can increase the overall efficiency of fuel utilisation to more than 75% Gross Calorific Value - compared with around 40% achieved by fossil fuel electricity generation plants, and up to 50% achieved by Combined Cycle Gas Turbines in operation today. CHP has the potential to save substantially on household energy bills. Most new CHP schemes use natural gas, but a significant proportion burn alternative, including renewable, fuels.

The UK has a target to install 10 gigaWatts (GW, oneGW=1,000MW) CHP by 2010. Current installed capacity is estimated at around 5GW.

Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells

Fuel cells have been designed to combine hydrogen and oxygen to form electricity, heat and water. These can be used for providing heat and power to individual or multiple homes and for powering cars. They operate best on pure hydrogen, but other natural gases can be converted into power too.

Hydrogen and fuel cells are intermediate technologies, not renewable sources, they cannot contribute to renewable energy targets. However, the production of hydrogen from renewable energy sources offers the potential to create an almost zero emission energy chain, with hydrogen and fuel cells used to power everything from domestic households (providing both heat and power) to mobile phones and cars.

Fuel-cell technology is still at the pre-commercial stage; so existing installations are demonstration projects. These include stationary power generation or CHP (for example at Woking) and transport (for example London buses).

Fuel-cell technology is an emerging global industry, with North America, Japan and the UK playing leading roles. Areas such as Teesside, with its long history of petrochemical innovation, are pioneering the initial development of the necessary technology and infrastructure to produce large-scale hydrogen fuel cells and help speed the creation of a hydrogen economy.