Industrial cogeneration: when it makes sense and which permits it requires

What is cogeneration?

It is generating electricity and useful heat from the same fuel. Natural gas engines drive the generators, and their heat, which a conventional plant wastes, is recovered for your process as steam, hot water or cooling.

What is trigeneration?

It is cogeneration that also produces cooling. The engines’ heat drives an absorption chiller, which delivers chilled water for processes or air conditioning. One gas source provides electricity, heat and cooling.

When does it make sense?

• Your plant has more than 1 MW of demand.
• You have access to natural gas. If you have access but no contract, we manage the supply. If you already have a contract, we work with your gas.
• Your process uses steam, hot water or cooling. If not, it makes sense as on-site gas generation.
• CFE’s grid can no longer supply your plant, or you need stable power for specialized equipment.

Why a hybrid plant with BESS?

The plant combines Cummins natural gas engines, a standby engine and an integrated BESS that keeps them close to maximum efficiency. Power quality is guaranteed by contract:

• Voltage regulation ±1 % in steady state.
• Frequency 60 Hz ±0.2 %.
• Measurement with a Class A power quality analyzer from months before start-up and continuously afterwards, including harmonic distortion (THD).

Isolated from CFE or connected?

We prefer isolated self-consumption: a private electrical network for your plant, with power quality guaranteed by contract. Grid fluctuations can damage specialized equipment. CFE or a qualified supplier remains as backup if you require it.

What isolated self-consumption is

Which permits does it require?

From 0.7 MW, a generation permit from the CNE. For self-consumption plants of 0.7 to 20 MW, the Self-Consumption One-Stop Shop coordinates the filings. The CNE rules on the generation permit within a maximum of 30 business days. ENEGRIN handles them.

How much does a cogeneration plant cost?

Under the shared-savings model you invest nothing. ENEGRIN builds the plant on your site, pays for it and operates it. You pay for the energy delivered, below what you pay today to CFE, to your qualified supplier or to another private supplier.

If you prefer to buy the plant, the price depends on capacity, heat use and site works. We give it to you in a proposal based on your bills.