An opportunity for the micro-cogeneration
While the performance of an electrical generator standard when transforming gas in electricity does not exceed of 30%, the one of a team of cogeneration can arrive to 90% since by each kwh electrical generated, takes advantage of the residual heat to produce more or less other two kwh thermal sensors.
Spain generates annually more than 210.000 GWh by means of thermal sensors processes in big head offices that dissipate to the environingingment more than 400.000 GWh of residual heat that does not take advantage of . Besides, more than 15.000 GWh electrical lose in the network during the transport from the head offices until the final users.
Much of these losses can be avoided thanks to cogeneration, since almost all of the waste heat is harnessed and avoided losses by transport for electric power production and consumption of the same are made in situ.
In fact, cogeneration was included in the scope of the Royal Decree 661/2007 for the promotion of renewable energies, energy efficiency and recycling and, under cover of the same, cogeneration equipment were installed to cover the thermal needs of the sites, pouring the surplus energy to the mains when the production was greater than the consumption, allowing a fast amortization of equipment.
Since the entry into force of January 27 RD 1/2012, new facilities to the pre-assignment of the Ministry registry may not be registered and, therefore, the impulse that had taken the cogeneration in Spain has been braking in dry.
However, cogeneration "per is" can be profitable small-scale, micro-cogeneration equipment can remain efficient, profitable and rapidly callable if they are sized so that the production thereof is intended for self-consumption. At the current price of electric power, we will save around 0.16 per each electrical kwh produced and in successive years, even more, by the forecast of the increase in energy prices.
Therefore is to optimize the equipment in such a way that they cover most of the thermal needs without generating electrical surplus, however, these could spread to the network for sale price of pool with current legislation or for later consumption, when approval of the regulations on net balance.
And this optimization based on the approach that must exist between the consumption and the production will require a preliminary analysis of energy demand for light and heat, the location and benefits of cogeneration equipment possibilities. It must be a comprehensive study on the costs of implementation and maintenance as well as durability according to planned working hours.
Some equipment of cogeneration can modulate to produce more thermal sensors or electrical power in function of the needs and program for his turned off automatic in hours or seasons in which it descends the thermal sensors or electrical demand.
Could estimate that a small team of micro-cogeneration very optimised, giving a simultaneity in the consumption of thermal sensors and electrical power more or less constant, could amortise in less than three years and would avoid the broadcast to the atmosphere of more than 150 tonnes of CO2 to the year.
In conclusion, in determinate places like hotels, hospitals, penitenciarías, residences, spas, spas or even, in the industrial state, where sue light and heat for his processes of simultaneous form, still exists an opportunity for the micro-cogeneration and, in a future, when it approve the rule on the net balance, could even have application in the residential sector, although for this have to advance a bit more in the systems of trigeneración, where the excess heat in summer transforms in cold to take advantage of in shape of air conditioned.
