A combined heat and power (CHP) plant is a unit that produces both electrical power and heat.
A CHP unit is a modified internal combustion engine. As a heat-generating machine, a CHP unit is less efficient than a boiler, and as an electricity generator it is less efficient than a power station. However, when the two are combined and can be used, then CHP is very effective.
Buildings with high year-round heat demand are generally most suited to CHP implementation; for example, leisure centres, hotels, hospitals and residential homes.
Micro-CHP is also now being trialled in residential properties. This unit will be a similar size to a conventional domestic boiler, but will both produce electricity and heat your home.
CHP is also versatile in its use of fuel. Britain’s industrial CHP base was built on coal-fired plant and, while much of this is still in operation, the current trend is very much towards gas-fired plant. There is also an emerging market for using biomass, which makes the entire process more sustainable.
Contacts
Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre for London
Telephone: 0800 512012
E-mail: advice@est-london.org.uk
Website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/london