Q: What is cogeneration or CHP?
A: CHP stands for combined heat and power.
According to Wikepedia, cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP) is the use of a heat engine[1] or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat.
All thermal power plants emit a certain amount of heat during electricity generation. This can be released into the natural environment through cooling towers, flue gas, or by other means. By contrast, CHP captures some or all of the by-product heat for heating purposes, either very close to the plant, or—especially in Scandinavia and eastern Europe—as hot water for district heating with temperatures ranging from approximately 80 to 130 °C. This is also called Combined Heat and Power District Heating or CHPDH. Small CHP plants are an example of decentralized energy.[2]
Q: Are there any examples of district heating in Indiana?
A: Yes, Indianapolis Power and Light (IPL) sells steam for district heating to the campus of IUPUI as well as 600 other residential, commercial and industrial customers.
Q: What is decentralized energy or distributed generation (DG)?
A: Distributed generation, also called on-site generation, dispersed generation, embedded generation, decentralized generation, decentralized energy or distributed energy, generates electricity from many small energy sources.
Q: What is the role of CHP in Indiana?
A: See this Fact Sheet prepared by the Pew Environment Group.
Here is a link to Citizens Thermal that includes a video link. http://www.citizensthermal.com/
Q: What do you think the role of cogeneration and CHP should be in the State of Indiana?