CHP - Combined Heat & Power

The national electricity network is typically only about 40% efficient, the remaining 60% is dissipated in the form of heat at the power station. A further circa 5% is lost during transmission making the overall efficiency about 35%.

In combined heat and power (CHP) systems, the heat produced during electricity generation is harnessed and put to use thereby increasing the overall efficiency.

Co-generation is the term applied when the waste heat is harnessed and used for heating purposes only.

Tri-generation is the term applied when the waste heat is harnessed and used for heating purposes and cooling via absorption chillers.

An absorption chiller uses heat to power the refrigeration cycle rather than an electric compressor.