Sustainable Cogeneration Examples

WinWerks delivers exceptional results with projects that boost the value of a client’s portfolio through quantifiable returns on investment and major improvements towards sustainability. Such improvements are made possible by a combination of expertise, precise measurement, and verification of results, which ultimately facilitate successful outcomes that circumvent significant risk and hassle. 

Listed below are a small selection of examples which demonstrate the successful implementation of cogeneration across the US and serve to inspire future design through leadership in renewable and sustainable energy sources.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

Cogeneration is integral to the operation of modern facilities such as the UC San Diego campus, where a 30­-megawatt system is used to provide 85% of annual electricity consumption. UC San Diego’s system received an EPA Energy Star CHP award as a result of its positive impacts to the environment by drastically lowering emissions and greatly improving energy savings. According to statements provided by UC San Diego, implementing cogeneration has resulted in $8 million per year worth of energy savings, and has also bolstered the self-­reliance of the campus and decreased its vulnerability to power outages and congestion of the electrical grid.

UC San Diego’s system has a net operating efficiency of 66%, and requires 26% less fuel than a typical system involving purchased electricity and onsite thermal generation. Aside from the economic benefit of these savings, the system reduces carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 82,500 tons per year, or the equivalent to emissions from 13,700 passenger vehicles.

The financial returns from UCSD’s cogeneration plant are astounding, and are compounded by decreased carbon emissions.

HILTON NEW YORK

The Hilton in New York is the city’s largest hotel, and consumes more than 23 million kW hours of electricity every year. Recently, its management opted to install a 1.7 MW cogeneration system to help mitigate the financial and environmental impacts of its massive demand for energy. This system reduces the carbon footprint of the hotel by over 30%, totaling 10,000 tons per year. Over the course of its 20 year contract, the system is expected to save the Hilton nearly $500,000 in energy­-related expenses. In addition to these savings, the cogeneration system qualifies for various state and federal energy programs that seek to promote energy efficiency and reduce the environmental burden, including the Department of Energy’s ITC program. The leadership of the Hilton New York have expressed their satisfaction with the results of this project, saying “The cogeneration facility strengthens our position as a global leader for environmental sustainability while allowing us to focus on our core business of providing exceptional guest experiences to travelers.”

LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAX)

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) recently opened a brand new 8.4 MW cogeneration plant to provide power to its facilities. This plant will serve to replace a previous cogeneration plant on-­site, and operate more than 25% more efficiently while providing electricity, heat, and cooling through steam driven absorption chillers. LAX is one of the world’s busiest airports, and the demand for consistent and reliable electricity is of utmost priority in order to stay in operation. This new cogeneration system is a critical part of the foundation for LAX’s enormous Capital Improvement Program expansions and upgrades to the airport. 

hOTEL NIKKO, San Francisco

Hotel Nikko is 25 story, 532 room hotel in San Francisco which is a recent adopter of cogeneration technology in the form of twin microturbines. This system allows the hotel to provide electricity and hot water to its occupants accompanied by an immediate reduction in energy costs and vastly fewer GHG emissions. Cogeneration serves to further boost the hotel’s standing as an environmentally conscious leader in addition to maximizing its operational efficiency.

EMbassy Suites Hotel, San Luis Obispo

The Embassy Suites Hotel in San Luis Obispo, California is another great example of a successful cogeneration application. This hotel opted for PowerHouse Energy to fully install, operate, and own the system, which ultimately provides the building with 40% of its average electricity demand as well as 75% of its average thermal demand. By engaging in this type of installation, the Embassy saves between $900 to $1200 per month on energy costs, and requires no additional expenditures for the management and operation of its system. Overall, the hotel will save nearly $180,000 over the course of its 15 year contract with PowerHouse Energy.