Cogeneration offers numerous advantages to energy-intensive companies, as it allows them to increase energy efficiency, thereby reducing costs and CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
01Cogeneration
Cogeneration or CHP (Combined, Heat and Power) means producing simultaneously electricity and heat from a single energy source.
Cogeneration plants, unlike conventional thermal power plants, simultaneously produce electrical and thermal energy using a single primary energy source. The heat generated during combustion is used for the production of electrical energy while the residual thermal energy that would normally be dispersed is recovered to produce hot water or for plant’s production processes.
02Trigeneration
Trigeneration or CCHP (Combined Cooling Heating and Power) is a process that, in addition to electrical and thermal energy, can also produce cooling energy as chilled water.
Refrigeration is made using a specific machine called absorption refrigerator which, through a series of evaporation and condensation cycles, cools the working fluid. These processes, unlike normal compression cycles, are not powered by electricity but are generated by means of hot water or steam recovered from the waste heat of cogeneration.
03High-efficiency cogeneration
Considering that energy savings may vary from plant to plant, the European Directive 2004/8/EC establishes that cogeneration can be defined as high-efficiency cogeneration (CAR) if the primary energy saving (PES) value is higher than certain thresholds.
PES, an acronym for Primary Energy Saving, expresses the primary energy savings achievable by a cogeneration plant compared to separate plants for the generation of thermal energy and electricity.
Hence, PES defines how efficient the CHP plant is compared to separate production done by dedicated plants (based on national average parameters).
High-efficiency cogeneration (CAR) is defined as the production of heat and electricity by cogeneration units that provides primary energy savings (PES) equal to:
- PES > 0 % – for micro-and small cogeneration units, i.e. with a generating capacity of up to 1MWe;
- PES >= 10% – for cogeneration units generating capacity above 1MWe
04White certificates
TEE (Energy Efficiency Certificates), also called White Certificate, are issued for high-efficiency cogeneration plants.
It is a tool aimed at promoting energy efficiency in Italy.
These are negotiable securities that certify the savings achieved. Savings are measured in Tons of Oil Equivalent (TOE) and one TOE corresponds to one White Certificate.
Cogeneration represents the best solution for companies aiming to combine energy efficiency and cost reduction with respect for the environment.
Let’s discover together the main benefits:
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Feasibility studyAfter the first approach to the customer in which the first ideas on the optimal plant configuration are sketched out, a first sizing of the plant and its business plan are prepared in order to determine the technical/economic feasibility of the investment.
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AuthorizationCogeneration plants must be authorized under different aspects: from the environmental emission and acoustic to the connection to the electrical grid passing through the construction authorizations. These are processes that MERCURIO manages internally for its customers.
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Basic designThe first phases of the design establish the positioning of the machines and piping as well as allowing the sizing of all the equipments comprising the plant.
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Detailed designThe design continues with the fine definition of the plant details so that the construction phases develop in a timely and efficient manner.
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ConstructionConstruction stage, whether it be the prefabrication of pipes or the construction of machinery or carpentry, is entrusted to established partners who are constantly monitored through dedicated expediting. The delivery on time of the supplies, respecting the required quality, is a fundamental milestone to ensure the success of the project.
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InstallationThis stage represents the most important step of the plant realization and if not correctly managed, it might compromise project plans, thus lengthening the delivery time considerably. In order to ensure the success of the installations on site, MERCURIO deploys not only a Site Manager who effectively coordinates the works, but also Project Engineers who continuously monitor the quality and the correspondence of the installations according to the project.
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CommissioningAt the end of the installation the commissioning stage begins. Commissioning can be divided into cold commissioning and hot commissioning (or start-up). Cold commissioning includes all the mechanical and electrical verification activities that allow the plant to be started up in a safe and performing way. Hot start-up starts from the circulation of fluids within the hydraulic circuits up to the performance tests of the supplied systems.
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MaintenanceAt the end of the performance tests the plant starts its commercial operation stage. From here on it is essential, in order to minimize plant downtime, to manage and maintain the plant in a preventive and planned manner, managing spare parts in stock and making predictive failure analysis.
Find out our reference list
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SECTORFOODMWe15CHILLED WATER6MWfGAS TURBINE2xGPB80DHRSG30 MWCHILLED WATER6MWf -
SECTORFOODMWe22GAS TURBINE3xGPB80DHRSG60 t/h -
SECTORPAPERMWe7.5GAS TURBINEGPB80DHRSG20 t/h -
SECTORPAPERMWe1.7GAS TURBINEGPB17DHRSG5 t/h -
SECTORPAPERMWe1.7GAS TURBINEGPB17DHRSG5 t/h -
SECTORPAPERMWe4.5GAS TURBINEGPB50DHRSG14 t/h -
SECTORPHARMAMWe4.5CHILLED WATER1.5MWfGAS TURBINEGPB50DHRSG14 t/hCHILLED WATER1.5MWf -
SECTORPET FOODMWe1.7GAS TURBINEGPB17DHRSG5 t/h -
SECTORPAPERMWe7.5GAS TURBINEGPB80DHRSG20 t/h -
SECTORPAPERMWe7.5GAS TURBINEGPB80DHRSG20 t/h -
SECTORPAPERMWe12GAS TURBINEGPB80D+50DHRSG30 t/h
Our company has developed highly specialized skills enabling it to perform in-house every single stage required for the development and design of plants.