www. cos pp. co m C o ge n er ation & O n – S it e P o wer Pr o du ction | Sep t ember - O cto ber 2012 41 CHP e y es pricin g p a rit y S inc e th e 1960 s , g o v e r n m e n t inc e nti ve s ha ve l a rgely dr i ve n th e m a rke t f o r nat ur a l- g as fuelled co mb in ed h e at an d p o wer ( CHP). T o d a y, m a rke t f o r c e s a re cons p i r in g to m a ke CHP – an d g as - fuelled d ist r i bu t ed ge n er ation in ge n er a l – fi nancia lly att r acti ve so lely on its mer its , e s pe cia lly in N o r th A mer ica . An a bu n d anc e o f nat ur a l g as br o ug ht a b o u t by gr o w th in h ydr a ul ic fr act ur in g ( fr ac k in g) in sha le f o rm ations has dr i ve n N o r th A mer ican g as pr ic e s d o w n sha rply – an d fuel repre s e nts 70– 90% o f l i fe ti me o w nin g an d o per atin g costs f o r a CHP s y st em. Me an w hi le, em issions regul ations a ffe ctin g coa l- fi red p o wer pl ants an d th e r isin g cost o f sitin g t r ans m ission an d d ist r i bu tion l in e s , an inc re as e in hi g h er- cost re n ew a ble so ur c e s in u ti l it y p o r t f o l ios , an d oth er f acto r s a re pu shin g gr i d p o wer pr ic e s up. T his m a ke s on - sit e p o wer pr o du ction w ith g as fuelled re ci pr ocatin g e n g in e s hi g h ly cost - co mpe titi ve – an d l i kely to be co me m o re so in th e l on g ru n . Fur th erm o re, w hi le g o ver n me nt a u st er it y me as ure s in Eur o pe ha ve c ur tai led inc e nti ve s f o r CHP, s u ch inc e nti ve s a re on th e r is e in th e U nit ed S tat e s . A s e a r ch on th e US Dep a r t me nt o f E n ergy D ata b as e o f S tat e Inc e nti ve s f o r Re n ew a ble s an d Effi ci e nc y ( www. d si reu sa . o rg) reve a l s 34 stat e s in w hich g o ver n me nt - o r u ti l it y- s p onso red CHP inc e nti ve s ex ist – as ta x inc e nti ve s , gr ants o r l oans . F ina lly, a dv anc ed fueleffi ci e nt , l o w- em ission g as e n g in e s a re re a d i ly a v ai l a ble – an d e n g in e t e chno l o gy contin ue s to i mpr o ve fuel effi ci e nc y, e nhanc e rel ia b i l it y an d redu c e m aint e nanc e an d o per atin g costs f o r g as - fueled on - sit e ge n er ation . T h e a dd ition a nd a c ha n g in g f ue l mi x bo l ster t h e c a se f or CHP New technology Advances in gas engine technology and rising transmission costs are raising the fi nancial appeal of on- site power production with gas- fuelled reciprocating engines. Case studies from Canada, China and Spain highlight the fast- changing economic reality, fi nds M i c h a e l A . De v i n e . Cat CG132- 8 gas generator set cospp
BOOK MARK
LINK
PRINT
SHARE
SAVE
Search
Facebook
Twitter
linkedin
Google
Bookmark & Share