Combined Heat & Power Association

The Combined Heat and Power Association works to promote the wider use of combined heat and power and community heating. Clean and efficient Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is already in use on close to 1,400 locations around the UK. Read the Prime Minister's support for CHP

Read more here

12 February 2008: Greenpeace's Model Town: Welcome to EfficienCity
Greenpeace has today launched their vision of a model town, "EfficienCity". EfficienCity shows how pioneering communities and organisations in the UK are achieving real reductions in energy use and carbon emissions. The city shows how towns and cities across the UK can heat, cool and power their communities through decentralised energy and how the technologies work and interact. Within the slick animation and interactive features there is some useful information about how Combined Heat and Power can be integrated within a city. To have a stroll around EfficienCity please click here

10 February 2008: UK’s Tallest Residential Building to Run on CHP
The Pan Peninsula development – the UK’s tallest residential building – is expected to make carbon emissions savings of 207 tonnes per year, thanks to the inclusion of onsite CHP provided by Manchester-based cogeneration specialist Ener-g. By generating its own heat and electricity onsite, the London-based state-of-the-art community heating scheme is expected to make a high profile contribution to Mayor Ken Livingstone’s Green London programme, whilst reducing energy bills. The £27 million Pan Peninsula project is due to be completed in 2009, and will see two new towers in Canary Wharf join the London skyline. Jason Clarke, regional business development manager at Ener-g Combined Power, explained that the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive has meant that UK and European government are “increasingly placing CHP and community heating programmes at the heart of environmental policy and it is now important to assess the viability of CHP”

31 January 2008: Call for Evidence on Heat is Launched
In response to the growing significance of heat in the energy policy agenda, BERR has today published it's call for evidence on Heat. This eight week consultation will aim to improve the Government’s understanding of the heat market and related carbon impacts, and will inform the optimum policy framework to reduce emissions in the sector. The Association will be responding to the consultation in full and will be pressing for an ambitious approach to realise carbon savings in this key area.
Please read the consultation document here (pdf)
For further information please click here

30 January 2008: CHP Tomatoes Power New Waitrose Store

Waitrose and two of its suppliers have joined forces with electricity supplier green energy UK to make its new Rickmansworth store the first of its branches to be powered by CHP from tomato growing. The two tomato farms in Chichester and Stansted use CHP to ‘feed’ the tomatoes CO2, using excess heat to both warm the greenhouses and drive a turbine to generate fully sustainable electricity that meets all the Rickmansworth store’s electricity needs.

Read the article from John Lewis Partnership here
Read Green Energy’s Press Release here

30 January 2008: Scottish and Southern Energy Acquires CHP Supply Ltd

28 January 2008 – Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has acquired CHP Supply Ltd through its subsidiary SSE (Ireland) Ltd. CHP Supply Limited trades as CH Power in the Republic of Ireland, supplying 3,500 electricity customers mainly in the small and medium sized business market. The acquisition also includes business premises in Portlaoise and Dublin, and follows the early January announcement that SSE has entered into an agreement to acquire Dublin-based Airtricity Holdings Ltd. Alistair Phillips-Davies, Energy Supply Director of SSE, referred to the acquisition as marking “the first phase of SSE’s move into the Irish supply market” that “establishes a sound foundation to pursue our stated objective of becoming a significant player in this market."

Read the SSE Press Release here

29 January 2008: World Alliance for Decentralized Energy (WADE) appoint New Chairman

Mr Christoph Vitzthum, Group Vice President and head of Wärtsilä Power Plants, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the World Alliance for Decentralized Energy (WADE) with effect from 1 January 2008. "Decentralized power production is becoming increasingly important in the global power mix, and it is a vital complement to centralized power generation. Through increasing the market share of decentralized energy production we can, among others, improve total electrical efficiency and provide more secure power supply for local consumers. DE technologies enable us to create a more cost-effective and a more sustainable electricity system that delivers substantial economic and environmental benefits, such as reduced energy costs and decreased emissions", says Christoph Vitzthum. The Association would like to congratulate Mr Vitzthum and WADE on the announcement.
To read more please click here

28 January 2008: ContourGlobal in Plans for 15 CHP Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Plants

Working with energy development company ContourGlobal, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company is launching a major industrial emissions reduction initiative in Europe that includes plans to install a total of 15 CHP plants at bottling facilities in twelve countries by the end of 2009. The first phase of the project will see ContourGlobal install 19 GE Energy Jenbacher gas engine cogeneration units with a total output of 58 megawatts (MW), enabling each bottling plant to eliminate more than 40% of their annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. These plans follow success with a Coca-Cola Hellenic CHP plant in Hungary, which demonstrated a reduction in CO2 emissions by 43% during its first year of operation and reduced energy costs by €400,000. The new initiative falls in line with recent European Commission plans to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 20% by 2020. Joseph Brandt, President and Chief Executive Officer of ContourGlobal, commented on the programme as “proving that well-designed carbon reduction programmes can be cost saving as well”.

Read the ContourGlobal press release here

January 2008: New CHPQA Standard Published

Implementation of the EU Cogeneration Directive has required that Member States’ establish a harmonised method for calculation of electricity from cogeneration. In practice this requires a harmonisation of CHPQA with the EU Cogeneration Directive. This in tern has requires that the 'X and Y values' are adjusted to reflect:

· The harmonised reference values for independent heat and power production;
· Mminimum primary energy savings (PES) targets - 10% for standard plant, 0% for small-scale and microCHP;·
· Minimum overall efficiency of 70% for plant larger than 25 MWe.

The revised version of the CHP Quality Assurance Standard has now been published. Encouraging CHP Self-Assessment and Certification under CHPQA provides the principal evidence required for determining eligibility for various benefits designed to encourage the development of CHP Schemes. The CHPQA programme is carried out on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, in consultation with the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
To view the revised Document please click here (pdf) Or click here to view the chpqa website

14 January 2008: Platts' Dr Dominic Maclaine Quizzes CHPA Director
Cutting carbon emissions seems to be the dominating driving force behind the UK energy policy agenda at the current time. Lobbyists for windfarms, nuclear power and carbon sequestration all seem to have had some success in bending government’s ear for support over the last year or so. But what of other low carbon technologies, such as combined heat and power (CHP) generation, that arguably have been economically viable for years? The UK Government estimates that every 1,000 MWe of combined heat and power (CHP) capacity will save 0.76 million tons of carbon compared with conventional energy supply from boilers and fossil-fuel power stations. But of the 30 GW or so new power station being planned in the UK very little of this is CHP. And experts believe that the majority of this is unlikely to proceed under current incentives. So what needs to be done to encourage the take-up of more CHP plant? Dr Dominic Maclaine quizzed the CHPA’s new boss.

Please click here to read the full article (pdf)

14 January 2008: E.ON UK & Energetix Group to Collaborate on Micro-CHP Unit
E.ON and Energetix have signed an agreement to develop and deploy a prototype Micro-CHP unit in UK homes that will incorporate Energetix's Genlec Organic Rankine Cycle unit. The unit, a compact and lightweight unit similar in size to current gas boiler designs, is described as having the potential to be the world's first truly wall-mounted micro CHP product. The highly efficient new units are expected to be able to power a wide range of UK homes, reducing UK carbon emissions and potentially reducing user energy bills by around £150. As part of the agreement E.ON will fund the testing and evaluation of the system at the Energetix facility, which will be verified by independent experts EA Technology. The evaluation will appraise the economic potential of the system, assessing its achievable energy savings and commercial value, and should be completed in the first half of 2008.

Read E.ON’s press release here

10 January 2008: CHPA Press Release
BEYOND NUCLEAR – HEAT HOLDS THE KEY TO SECURE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SUPPLIES
Read Here

For further information please use the links below:
Energy Bill (pdf)
Explanatory note (pdf)
DBERR Impact Assessment (pdf)
Nuclear power white paper (pdf)
Government Response to Renewables Obligation Consultation on Banding (pdf)

9 January 2008: Newsnight & CHP
Please note this debate on Newsnight regarding the imminent announcement on the Government's ambition to allow new Nuclear power station development. The debate, as you would expect, was lively and the panel, chaired by Mr Paxman, had a thorough debate about current Energy Policy within the UK.
Watch the show here

9 January 2008: ENER-G Group Acquires Switch2
Sustainable energy technology business ENER-G has acquired energy metering and control specialist Switch2 Energy Solutions. Switch2 has been in operation in the UK for over 40 years, working predominantly in the district and community heating sectors, and specialises in provision of energy metering, control and billing for domestic and commercial consumers.
Regarding ENER-G’s provision of cogeneration systems for district and community heating, ENER-G chairman Tim Scott commented that ”the addition of Switch2 now enables us to offer complete end-to-end solutions in this growing market.” Switch2 director Jayne Clare commented on the “complementary strengths” of the two organisations, with Switch2 expected to strategically fit well with ENER-G’s operational sectors of energy management, cogeneration, renewable energy, and energy from waste.

Read the ENER-G press release here
Read the Switch2 press release here

22 December 2007: New Sustainability Standards Launched for Housebuilders
A set of new environmental construction standards for housebuilders that go far beyond current Building Regulations are being launched by the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA). The Green Charter, introduced in collaboration with Creative Environmental Networks (CEN), sets targets for the environmental performance of all buildings on a particular mixed-use new development, with energy and water sustainability targets at the heart of the agenda. Current plans include the potential for the installation of a biomass combined heat and power (CHP) system. All homes connected to this system would also need to meet level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and non-residential buildings would have a requirement to meet BREEAM “Excellent”.
For more infomation please click here

19 December 2007: Woodchip CHP to Power Britain’s First Eco Village
Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper has announced that Barratt Developments Plc, Britain’s biggest housebuilder, is to build England's first of ten proposed eco-villages as part of the Carbon Challenge. The 200 eco-homes will be powered by a woodchip biomass CHP plant, with an underground heat network providing a constant hot water supply. This site in Bristol should provide the blueprint for Government plans to build 100,000 new energy-efficient homes, and the village should be completed ahead of the Government’s 2016 target for all homes to be zero-carbon.
View the Barratt Developments press release
View the Carbon Challenge details being delivered by English Partnerships

17 December 2007: CHPA Press Release
Advances in Planning Provide Half the Answer In Battle On Urban Carbon Emissions

17 December 2007: E.ON to Offer Micro-CHP
EC Power and E.ON have signed a deal that will see EC Power’s Micro-CHP generators offered to E.ON’s public and private sector clients. The deal was made between E.ON’s Sustainable Energy Solutions business – a team specialising in offering low-carbon technologies – and EC Power, a Micro-CHP specialist part-owned by Europe’s largest energy company, Statoil Hydro. A deal between two energy giants is seen as a significant demonstration of Micro-CHP’s place as a leading commercially viable low carbon technology, with a highly competitive position amongst the micro-generation technologies.
Read the EC Power Press Release (pdf)

6 December 2007: CHPA Press Release
Decentralised energy revolution is long overdue

22 November 2007: Wissington Bioethanol Plant Opened
The CHPA welcome the opening of British Sugar's Wissington Bioethanol Plant today, the plant is the first of it's kind within the UK. British Sugar produces it's bioethanol from locally-grown sugar beet and has an annual production capacity of 70 million litres; made from 110,000 tonnes of sugar that is surplus to the needs of the food market. The sugar factory's combined heat and power plant provides energy for the bioethanol plant, ensuring that bioethanol produced delivers 60% lifecycle carbon savings. The remaining heat and carbon dioxide produced by the CHP plant is used in the growing of some 70m tomatoes a year in an 11-ha greenhouse.

Read the Government Press Release here

Read about it on the BBC website here

21 November 2007: The Renewable Advisory Board Backs Biomass CHP
Zero Carbon homes could create a £2.3 billion renewable energy supply market by 2016 states a report by the Renewable Advisory Board. The report looks at the key role played by onsite generation as opposed to relying on large scale offsite generation such as offshore wind farms.The report says that 9 out of 10 new build homes can achieve zero carbon status through the use of proven onsite renewable energy technologies. The report highlights that the success of the Zero Carbon Homes Policy is critically dependent on the technological development of sub 1MW Biomass CHP plant. If technological and supply capacity constraints are overcome the market for sub 1MW biomass CHP technology could be worth over half a billion pounds per annum from 2016. This makes Biomass CHP the leading form of generation which is required to meet the challenges faced by the Zero Carbon Homes policy. Amongst the many recommendations that RAB urges Government to pursue are that the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills make R&D into sub1MW biomass CHP a national priority and recommends that the deployment of biomass CHP is a priority of the new Environmental Transformation Fund,
Please read the report here

20 November 2007: IPCC States that CHP Can Play an Important Role in Mitigating Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) launched it's Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), “The Synthesis Report-Summary for Policymakers”. The report acts as a stark prompt for policymakers to take urgent action to avoid the devastating impact of "abrupt climate change" (ACC). Among the key messages from the report is the critical need to reduce greenhouse emissions within the world's building stock and energy production. CHP has been listed as one of the proven key mitigation technologies available to do this. The “Synthesis Report” states that policymakers need to act quickly to provide adequate incentives in order to seize the opportunities that do exist for mitigation and that it is crucial that an effective carbon price signal is put in place immediately. In subsequent press conference Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of United Nation Environment Programme stated "the market alone can not deliver; but the market with the right incentives and the right regulatory frameworks is perfectly capable of delivering giga tonnes of reduction in greenhouse emissions".

To read more about the IPPC's work click here
For a copy of the Synthesis Report-Summary for Policymakers please click here (pdf)

19 November 2007: CHPA Press Release
PM Turns Up Heat in Fight on Global Warming

16 November 2007: Yanmar Take the Lead on Renewable Micro-CHP
Minister for North-East England Nick Brown today opened the first Bio-fueled Micro CHP unit at New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) in Blyth. Yanmar, in partnership with One North East, will work with NaREC, Newcastle University and local partners, the Association welcomes this project and wishes Yanmar and it's project partners well in powering, monitoring, appraising and developing the engine, to enable it to be brought to the UK market within the next three years and look forward to working closely with Yanmar in the future.
For more information please click here

15 November 2007: CHPA Press Release
Hitting Our Climate Change Targets Demand Immediate Action on Combined Heat and Power

CHP: Bridging the Energy Gap 2007
CHPA's Annual Conference and Dinner
The Association's 2007 Conference took place on the 15th November 2007 at One Great George Street, Westminster, London SW1.
The Conference will was followed by a Dinner in the impressive Central Hall at the Natural History Museum, London SW7
This event was a "must attend" for all people with an interest in CHP.

View the programme & presentations

Combined Heat & Power Association Seeks Head of Policy
The CHPA is seeking to appoint a new Head of Policy to lead the Association's programme of work in policy development, government relations and parliamentary lobbying. Reporting to the Director, candidates should have a minimum of 5 years working experience in a relevent commercial or public policy position, with a comprehensive understanding of the energy sector. Salary is in the region of £45k, with a package including an employer's pension contribution. Further details can be obtained from Marta Miazza at the CHPA (020 7828 4077 or marta.miazza @ chpa.co.uk).

14 November 2007: Time to Act
The Association welcomes today's publication of Delta Energy and Environment's Benchmarking Study of the UK against other countries in terms of CHP policies and impact entitled "Time to Act". The report provides an excellent overview of the inadequacies of existing CHP support within the UK and demonstrates this underlying assertion in the context of other European Member states.
The report can be downloaded free of charge by clicking here (pdf)

2 November 2007: Biogas CHP District Energy Scheme to Cut Building Emissions
Cornhill Estates has submitted plans to build seven houses, 10 flats and offices that will be linked to a new Zero-Carbon Biogas CHP scheme. A spokesperson for Cornhill Estates commented: "We intend to make the houses zero carbon for heat using either wood pellet stoves and back boilers or wood pellet boilers. We will make all the boilers zero carbon for electricity using Poundbury's new district biogas CHP system. To achieve zero carbon for electricity for all the buildings we will draw their electricity from the new CHP plant". Comments on the scheme can be submitted to West Dorset District Council by November 30.
To read the full article click here

23rd October: Greater London Authority Act Receives Royal Assent
On Tuesday 23rd October the Greater London Authority Act received Royal Assent. It provides the Mayor of London with more strategic powers in key areas such as climate change and housing. The Act brings into law a broad package of additional powers for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. The Act builds on the earlier Greater London Authority Act (1999) by giving the Mayor new lead roles in housing and tackling climate change as well as strengthened powers over planning and waste. Under the provisions of the GLA Act 2007 the Mayor will:
* Publish a London housing strategy, setting out his strategic housing investment priorities for London;
* Be able to determine planning applications of strategic importance in London;
* Publish a strategy for reducing health inequalities between Londoners;
* Be subject to a duty to address climate change, and publish a London climate change mitigation and energy strategy and an adaptation to climate change strategy for London.
The Assembly will also be subject to a duty to address climate change, and will be able to hold confirmation hearings in order to scrutinise candidates for key appointments the Mayor intends to make.
The Act also allows the establishment of a London Waste and Recycling Board to promote the production of less waste in the capital and encourage recycling and re-use of waste.
For further information please click here (pdf)

20 October 2007: Waste Heat Recycling Plants Seen as Solution
A 10th of the UK’s electricity will come from power plants that recycle waste heat within the next three years, the government said on Friday.
In conventional power stations, the heat that is the by-product of electricity generation is wasted, but "combined heat and power" or CHP plants capture the heat and pipe it to local buildings. The government also said in a report on the technology that CHP could provide up to 17 per cent of the UK’s electricity in future.
Few combined heat and power plants have been built in the UK, though the technology is popular in Scandinavian countries. One reason is that most British power stations are located far from towns, and waste heat can only be piped to buildings within a few miles of the source.
However, some businesses use small CHP plants, also called cogeneration plants, to power their facilities.
The government wants more CHP plants, as they are energy-efficient and produce less carbon dioxide than conventional power operations.
In 2005, according to a government report, there were about 1,500 CHP plants in the UK, with a total capacity of more than five gigawatts, generating 27 terawatt hours of electricity and 52 terawatt hours of heat. By 2010, the UK should be generating 36 terawatt hours of electricity and 350 terawatt hours of heat, according to projections.
The government offers incentives to CHP, including enhanced capital allowances and exemption from the climate change levy. But the Combined Heat and Power Association, an industry body, said on Friday that these were not enough.
Graham Meeks, director of the CHPA, said: "In the absence of effective incentives to build CHP plants, our leading power companies are lining up to build a new generation of less efficient, power-only plants."
Source: FT
Read the CHPA Press Release here (pdf)

Read the Potential Study here

Read the Government's CHP progress report here

26 October 2007: CHP Could Play a Key Role in New Welsh Civic Centre
A CHP scheme could be used to supply Cardiff’s civic centre with heat and electricity under ambitious plans. The Welsh Assembly Government will part fund a feasibility study into setting up combined heat and power (CHP) scheme at Maindy to supply the historic Cathays Park area.

22 October 2007: SSE acquires 30% stake in Vital Energi
Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) has acquired a 30% stake in combined heat and power specialist Vital Energi Utilities for £6m.
The announcement follows a deal between SSE and Berkeley Homes to provide energy for a major development in south-east London. SSE will be responsible for installing an energy centre, including a CHP plant, which will serve 450 flats, a nursery, a doctors' surgery and commercial units.

12 October 2007: RWE Npower Cogen Launch New Website
To view the new site and learn more about RWE Npower Cogen, one of the leading developers of industrial CHP (Combined Heat and Power) in the UK, please click here.

12 October 2007 : Vital Energi still continues to recruit but not just in the North!
Due to phenomenal success in winning major projects throughout the UK, Vital Energi has created four new senior management positions in the North and South of England. Opportunities are immediately available for two senior proven Commercial Managers and two Contract Managers reporting directly at board level with respective regional responsibility. For further details about these exciting opportunities please visit our brand new website at www.vitalenergi.co.uk

11 October 2007: CCHP at heart of Olympics: Elyo selected as preferred bidder
Read CHPA press release.

5 October 2007: ENER-G Acquires Utility Services Company
ENER-G has bought the utility services company CMR Group. ENER-G's aquitisition represents a significent development in the development of thier energy service department. ENER-G chairman Tim Scott said: “CMR is a great addition to our growing businesses in this rapidly developing sector. Bringing together the skills, strengths and experience of our enlarged team will enable us to accelerate the growth of this division and confirm ENER-G as a leader in providing cost saving and environmentally preferential solutions".
For more infomation please click here

3 October 2007: Conservatives Address Waste Heat
On the Final day of the conference season, the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that the Conservatives would take a lead and firmly address the alarming waste of heat, within the UK's power generation. The Conservatives had previously flagged the idea of the introduction of a "Power Station Waste Heat Levy" within the Quality of Life Report. However, today's announcement marks that the idea has now been accepted and will appear in the parties manifesto. Mr Ainsworth commented that the introduction of a "Power Station Waste Heat Levy will encourage the capture and use of heat which today is just thrown up into the sky".
Please click here to read more:

2 October 2007: Tim Eggar Backs CHP as Rround Ttable Discuss the role of Heat
The last of the three fringe events that aimed to address the alarming waste of heat, within the UK's power generation was held today. The Fringe event entitled "Heat-The UK’s Energy Gap" was hosted by the CHP Association, the Renewable Energy Association & the Green Alliance, hosted at the Blackpool Town Hall and bought together a wealth of commercial, regulatory and political experience. The event was chaired by Graham Meeks the Director of the CHPA and guest speakers included Gaynor Hartnell of the REA, Russell Marsh the Head of Policy at Green Alliance, Phillip Piddington the Head of Cogen RWE Npower and Tim Eggar one of the driving forces behind the Quality of Life Commission. Mr Eggar, formerly Minister for Energy in the Department of Trade & Industry from 1992-1996, viewed the urgent need to reduce wastage of Heat in the UK economy and the greater uptake of Decentralised CHP as pivotal, if the UK will meet the challenges that will be laid out in the Climate Change Bill.

1 October 2007: CHP will Help Industry Respond to the Zero Carbon Challenge
Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper has urged developers to focus their efforts to deliver the eco homes of the future as Communities and Local Government has published revised guidance to help the industry respond to the challenge of meeting the zero carbon homes target. The guidance, which responds to comments and feedback from industry, provides greater clarity in a number of areas including the future eligibility of different energy sources, including CHP and District Heating and Cooling. The technical guidance can be found here.

News Archives
A wealth of information on issues that affected CHP in the UK and internationally can be found on the CHPA News Archive Pages

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Last Updated: Jan 2008