With distributed generation in the form of solar and small scale gas generation predicted to grow from just 2% last year to 12% by 2030, the cost of technology that allows customers to produce and store their own energy is steadily becoming more affordable.
Centrica’s Distributed Energy & Power business is working to help customers to capitalise on this trend, bringing a variety of energy solutions to large energy users that can help drive down bills, improve site resilience and bring down their carbon footprint. As part of this, we acquired ENER-G Cogen in 2016, an established supplier and operator of combined heat and power (CHP) solutions.
Speaking at the European Energy Forum in Strasbourg this week, ENER-G’s Head of Cogen Product and Technology Chris Marsland said: “Combined Heat and Power has been and will continue to be at the heart of the energy transition, where customers are fully engaged in their energy provision. It integrates efficiency, environment, carbon and flexibility benefits in the most cost effective manner.
“CHP allows for primary energy savings of more than 20% compared with the separate production of heat and electricity and can reach total efficiencies of around 90%. Today cogeneration saves Europe around 200 million tonnes of CO2 per year. And in the next 20 years, studies indicate that at least 25% of electricity production could come from cogeneration. This potential can come from industrial, district heating, buildings and agricultural applications, and there are many more areas where the potential for cogeneration has yet to be fully realised.
“The technology is also capable of offering grid support with minimal start up times, so not only does it serve as a transition technology towards a renewable Europe but it can also offer grid stability to prevent brown outs and black outs.
“The energy transition will require efforts on multiple fronts, including energy efficiency, stepping up efforts in both renewable electricity and heat, while ensuring a level playing field for distributed energy technologies to deliver the decarbonisation of the economy cost-effectively.”
About ENER-G Cogen
ENER-G Cogen has over 30 years’ experience and a strong track record in delivering end-to-end CHP solutions for industrial and commercial customers. The business operates predominantly in the UK but also has operations in the United States, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania and has a strong, diverse customer base across private and public sectors. It also participates in Australia, Ireland, Japan, Canada and Turkey through sales partnerships with local entities.
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