Advantages of cogeneration

Using the co-generation method to produce heat and electricity involves a roughly 40% saving on fuel. In money terms this means that the same amount of energy costs the user only 60% of the price, or for the same amount of fuel the user gains nearly twice as much energy, of which part can be sold, thus further reducing his own costs.

A range of gas companies also provide various forms of discount on the consumption of gas for co-generation. Heat and electricity are also generated at the point of consumption, by which costs for the distribution of energy and loss from distant distribution are cut. Heat originating in co-generation units is used to heat buildings, to prepare hot water or to prepare technological heat.

Co-generation units therefore can be part of emergency sources of electrical energy at the point of its continuous consumption. With the help of absorption exchangers it is possible to use the generated heat to produce coolants for technological purposes or air-conditioning. In such cases we speak of so-called tri-generation - the combined production of electricity, heat and cold. Therefore the economic return of  co-generation units usually runs at around 3 - 5 years depending on output and method of use.

Because using the co-generation method of production for heat and electricity saves about 40% of fuel costs, from the ecological point of view co-generation units reduce the damage to the environment by a similar level. Therefore co-generation units are currently among the most acceptable ways of producing heat and electricity in both the ecological and economic senses.