Cogeneration/CHP

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What Is Cogeneration?

Cogeneration or Combined Heat & Power (CHP) systems are packaged power plants that provide reliable onsite generation and energy efficiency. The process of generating electricity also generates heat. In traditional simple-cycle power plants that heat is treated as a by-product and allowed to go to waste. Onsite CHP or “Cogen” systems are much more efficient. They generate electricity and capture the heat through heat exchangers, using it as a source for hot water, heating and even cooling (A “Trigen” system converts the heat to cooling through an absorption chiller).

Cogeneration Efficiency

As you can see in the chart, a Cogen System uses 86% of the energy in a unit of fuel – that’s energy efficiency

Natural Gas Input – 100 Units
Electricity Output – 31 Units
Heat Output – 55 Units
Energy Efficiency – 86%

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Operational, Financial and Environmental Benefits

Reduced utility bills
Reliable on-site power
Back-up power capability
Highly efficient energy production
Strong return on investment
Typically 2-4 year payback
Fueled by clean natural gas
Reduce carbon emissions
Qualifies as an Alternative Energy Solution

Is Cogeneration Right For You?

We are always looking for sites with large and constant heat and electric demands. As a filter we like to see thermal usage or heating needs being greater than 4,000 therms/mo. Here’s a list of typical locations:

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Apartments, Co-ops and Condominiums

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Assisted Living Facilities

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Nursing Homes

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Senior Housing

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Colleges and Institutions

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Schools / Community Centers

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Hospitals

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Hotels

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Athletic Clubs

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Industrial Facilities

If you have an idea for a site, you should gather the past 12 months of energy costs. This includes your itemized utility bills (gas and electric) and any costs associated with backup power. With that info we can quickly assess the feasibility of the site. And remember, we offer a finder’s fee should a project go forward. Call or email ctchilds@coenergyamerica.com or rhm@coenergyamerica.com.

Specs & Systems

Co-Energy America designs units with electrical outputs ranging from 60 kW up to 1 MW. The system works in tandem with the electrical utility power grid and generally provides 50% or more of your electrical requirements. The balance continues to be provided by your local utility. The heat by-product is recovered through a highly efficient process, and can be used for domestic hot water, space heating, cooling, and other industrial processes.

YANMAR’s Energy Systems division began operation in 1984 and has installed over 6,000 CHP units worldwide. Using a YANMAR-designed, lean-burn Miller Cycle Gas Engine, which was developed from the company’s world-class diesel engine technology, these environmentally friendly systems are designed for reliability, efficiency, energy conservation, comfort and long-term savings.

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250 kW – Schematic

Packages can be combined and configured up to 1 MW.

Case Studies

Learn how cogeneration has worked at customer facilities.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy (Foster St.)

OVERVIEW Having already experienced the benefits of two Co-Energy CHP units, in 2015 MCPHS continued searching for energy efficiency improvements in their academic and dormitory buildings. MCPHS chose to partner once again with Co-Energy America to develop a CHP...

St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion

OVERVIEW Covenant Health Systems has installed multiple Co-Energy CHP systems at their assisted living facilities. Sites range in size from 60kW, 85kW to 150kW units. In 2015, when Covenant was looking to expand their eco-friendly and energy saving efforts at St....

Pine Street Inn

OVERVIEW The Pine Street shelter in Boston’s South End has significant hot water needs for the showers, dishwashing and laundry. After thoroughly assessing the loads of the building, Co-Energy America installed a turnkey Amerigen 85 kW CHP system. The Pine Street Inn...

Dedham Health & Athletic Complex

OVERVIEW As DHAC’s business has grown over the years, the property has needed multiple renovations and expansions, and recently through a comprehensive energy efficiency project, the old boilers were replaced and a CHP system was installed. An Amerigen 8150 CHP was...

Southeastern Regional Vocational-Technical H.S.

OVERVIEW In 2009 SEVT in collaboration with a national ESCO and Co-Energy America, developed a plan for energy savings. The school underwent an array of energy efficient modifications ranging from lighting retrofits and controls, water conservation, waste oil heaters...

Bethany Health Care Center

OVERVIEW In addition to high utility bills, Bethany Health Care Center was regularly plagued with brown-outs (power shortages from the electricity grid). For a critical care facility, attempting to operate during such brownouts is very difficult and dangerous. As a...

Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy

OVERVIEW The Boston campus of MCPHS had been operating a boiler that was sized primarily for operating in winter months, but was vastly oversized for operations during summer months. In 2008 the college chose Co-Energy America to analyze and design a solution. Based...

Youville Place & Mary Immaculate

OVERVIEW Covenant Health Systems was looking for ways to reduce energy costs and become more eco-friendly, so they contracted Co-Energy America to install a 150 kW CHP system at Youville and an 85 kW CHP at Mary Immaculate. The payback on these investments was two...

Cape Codder Resort & Spa

OVERVIEW Co-Energy America has worked with the Cape Codder on multiple occasions to develop clean energy solutions. The resort runs two Co-Energy CHP units 24/7 in order to alleviate their large consumption of hot water and electricity. According to the resort, the...

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