If there are two phrases we have come to know very well, they are
'environmental awareness' and 'credit crunch'. The world is looking for
ways to decrease the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere,
without incurring major costs in doing so. By increasing efficiencies up
to about 90 per cent using well-established and mature technologies,
cogeneration represents the best option for short-term reductions in
CO2 emission levels.
The ability to maximise revenue streams by taking advantage of price
fluctuations in the cost of energy supply, and ensuring the ability to
supply power regardless of what is happening on the grid, are powerful
incentives to use cogeneration. The collapses of the grid networks in
North America and Italy in 2003 were a stark reminder of what can happen
if there is over-reliance on the grid network.
Cogeneration makes sense economically, environmentally and
operationally.