ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC-IMPLICATIONS OF SMALL-SCALE CHP

This paper discusses the possible environmental and economic implications of small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) in the UK. The technology is based on internal combustion engines running on natural gas. Electricity is generated with high efficiency from a fuel that has the lowest carbon to energy content of the fossil fuels. Furthermore, this form of CHP has the potential to be applied very widely. Viable installations could range from 40 kW(e) in small commercial buildings to over 50 MW(e) on large industrial sites. Small-scale CHP therefore offers great scope for reducing emissions of CO2, a major contributor to global warming.