What is cogeneration and what advantages does it offer?<\/strong> It is an efficient energy production<\/strong> technique with a low environmental impact<\/strong>. Its peculiarities make it a cutting-edge technology in the<\/strong> energy sector, thanks to a combined system<\/strong> that generates electrical and thermal energy<\/strong> at the same time.<\/p>\n\n The concept of cogeneration derives from the production of electricity and heat <\/strong>from a single energy source, the fossil one. This approach rewrites the constraints that govern traditional power and thermal power plants.<\/p>\n\n An analysis of conventional power plants<\/strong> shows that a large part of the energy injected as fuel<\/strong>, approximately 60 %, is dispersed into the environment<\/strong> in the form of heat<\/strong>. The usable energy is reduced to just 30-35 % of the energy burned.<\/p>\n\n In cogeneration systems, the proportions change radically; Thanks to the coupling of an engine<\/strong> with an alternator<\/strong> , the chemical energy injected with the fuel is transformed<\/strong> , first into mechanical<\/strong> energy and then into electrical energy<\/strong>. The heat that is not transformed into work is recovered<\/strong> thanks to the cooling<\/strong> of the engine block<\/strong> and its exhaust gases<\/strong> . This energy, normally dispersed in the environment in conventional power plants, is completely recovered<\/strong> at no additional cost.<\/p>\n\n Cogeneration plants ensure a significant increase in performance, which translates into an increase in energy efficiency<\/strong> that can reach 85-90%.<\/p>\n\n They also differ from the previous thermal power plants in another important way: cogeneration systems<\/strong> do not require<\/strong> the use of two separate plants<\/strong>, only one is sufficient that is fed by a single source, which can be methane gas<\/strong>, LNG<\/strong>, biogas, biomethane<\/strong>, etc. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n On an operational level<\/strong>, using cogeneration generates twice as much energy as<\/strong> a traditional power plant. A first positive impact is evident, the high reduction in expenses pertaining to plant engineering. It is not only a benefit to be considered economically but also for the environmental impact<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n The value of cogeneration has also been certified by the institutions of the European Union<\/strong>. The European Parliament has noted its usefulness for achieving the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol<\/strong>, giving rise to initiatives aimed at promoting it.<\/p>\n\n Studies around cogeneration have laid the foundation for further development processes. Trigeneration<\/strong> is in fact a process that generates<\/strong> both thermo-electric energy<\/strong> and cooling energy<\/strong> at the same time<\/strong>. This third new element, chilled water, is used for structures intended for the conditioning<\/strong> or cooling<\/strong> of industrial machinery<\/strong> and\/or food treatments<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n Cogeneration<\/strong> and trigeneration<\/strong> have many benefits<\/strong> in common, which have a value in terms of economic savings<\/strong>, environmental impact<\/strong> (with the release of lower CO2 emissions) and energy efficiency<\/strong>. A technical evolution that allows us to glimpse new scenarios of sustainable development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What is cogeneration and why is it so important for the energy sector? What is cogeneration and what advantages does it offer? It is an efficient energy production technique with a low environmental impact. Its peculiarities make it a cutting-edge technology in the energy sector, thanks to a combined system that generates electrical and thermal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":18218,"parent":0,"template":"","news_cat":[83],"class_list":["post-17245","notizia","type-notizia","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news_cat-news-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow cogeneration plants work<\/h3>\n\n
The opportunities offered by cogeneration<\/h3>\n\n
High-efficiency trigeneration and cogeneration<\/h3>\n\n