CHP Technologies
Basic Information
Catalog of CHP Technologies
The Catalog of CHP Technologies (PDF) (139 pp, 1.5 MB) provides an overview of how combined heat and power (CHP) systems work and the key concepts of efficiency and power-to-heat ratios. It also provides information about the cost and performance characteristics of five commercially available CHP prime movers.
Download chapters from the Catalog of CHP Technologies:
- Introduction (PDF) (15 pp, 311K)
- Gas Turbines (PDF) (26 pp, 268K)
- Microturbines (PDF) (24 pp, 280K)
- Reciprocating Engines (PDF) (28 pp, 356K)
- Steam Turbines (PDF) (21 pp, 207K)
- Fuel Cells (PDF) (25 pp, 525K)
Waste Heat to Power
Waste Heat to Power Systems (PDF) (9 pp, 661K) provides resource owners, facility managers, developers, and other interested parties with a comprehensive overview of WHP and a characterization of the WHP market. Specific topics addressed include the following:
- Introduction to WHP and a description of key WHP technologies
- Key factors that affect the economic feasibility of WHP in the industrial sector
- Description of the most promising industrial sector WHP applications
- Typical installed costs and generating costs for WHP
- Current market penetration of WHP systems in the United States
- Market barriers to WHP
- Case studies of successful WHP projects
Biomass CHP Catalog of Technologies
The Biomass CHP Catalog of Technologies (PDF) (123 pp, 2.4 MB) provides resource owners, facility managers, developers, policymakers, and other interested parties with a detailed technology characterization of biomass CHP systems. The report reviews the technical and economic characterization of biomass resources, biomass preparation, energy conversion technologies, power production systems, and complete integrated systems.
Download chapters from the Biomass CHP Catalog of Technologies:
- Introduction and Overview (PDF) (16 pp, 139K)
- Basic First Steps and Considerations (PDF) (4 pp, 64K)
- Biomass Resources (PDF) (10 pp, 359K)
- Biomass Preparation (PDF) (9 pp, 167K)
- Biomass Conversion Technologies (PDF) (32 pp, 1.3 MB)
- Power Generation Technologies (PDF) (16 pp, 211K)
- Representative Biomass CHP Systems Cost and Performance Profiles (PDF) (18 pp, 332K)
- Appendix A – Climate Change Benefits of Biomass CHP (PDF) (2 pp, 44K)
- Appendix B – EPA CHP Partnership Biomass Tools and Resources (PDF) (2 pp, 58K)
- Appendix C – Landfill Gas (PDF) (1 pg, 35K)
- Appendix D – Anaerobic Digesters (PDF) (2 pp, 52K)
- Appendix E – Modular Biomass Systems Available or in Pre-Commercial Development (PDF) (4 pp, 55K)
- Appendix F – References (PDF) (7 pp, 78K)
Additional Information About CHP Technology
EPA's Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Technology Center has verified the performance of both fuel cell and microturbine systems, some of which include heat recovery systems (i.e., CHP). Both documents include the research methodology as an appendix:
- Fuel Cells (PDF) (9 pp, 398K)
- Microturbine/Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Technologies (PDF) (10 pp, 578K)