Combined heat and power: Facilities can function even when the grid doesn’t - by Davetta Thacher

Davetta Thacher, NYSERDA

Combined heat and power (CHP) systems are designed for reliability and to continuously supply electricity and heat from a single fuel source. In addition to reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, the systems can provide emergency power to a facility during a grid power outage and help the rest of the surrounding community get their power back faster.

Disruption is a major concern because having an uninterrupted power supply is critically important for many operations. Unfortunately, the frequency of disruptions to our energy system is increasing.¹ NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) works with numerous critical facilities where energy resilience and maintaining a reliable operation is a top priority for administrators and managers. Facilities include:

• Hospitals and nursing homes

• Water treatment/sanitation facilities

• Grocery stores

• Law enforcement facilities

Here is an example of how CHP can be successfully incorporated to maintain reliability at a critical facility. In 2012, Superstorm Sandy caused a prolonged blackout in New York City. That single event resulted in an estimated $30 to $50 billion in economic losses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Northeast Clean Energy Application Center.²

The storm also triggered emergency patient evacuations and transfers from hospitals that lost power to those still with power and capable of providing care. New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan was one of the hospitals that successfully weathered the storm and its aftermath.³

New York Presbyterian’s electric, space conditioning and water-heating needs were shielded from the effects of the storm, thanks to its grid-independent capability. The hospital successfully maintained power to support essential services, and could admit and provide care to patients during that extreme weather event without interruption.

In addition to operating without disruption during a blackout, CHP systems also help expedite the restoration of power within their communities. When buildings are able to operate independent of the grid, local power companies can direct their limited resources to reestablishing power at other, potentially critical facilities.

At the highest level, CHP systems make significant contributions to the performance and resiliency of New York State’s electric grid. They can be a critical component of community microgrids, enabling distributed generation (DG) of thermal and electric energy.  NYSERDA’s expert team is prepared to provide technical and financial support to administrators and managers interested in exploring the many benefits of CHP.

Act now, and be able to work through the next storm.

NYSERDA’s CHP program offers support to building owners and facility managers of commercial, industrial, and multifamily buildings interested in CHP systems 50 kW and larger. Visit nyserda.ny.gov/chp-acceleration for more information about preapproved equipment vendors and other organizations offering support for CHP.

Footnotes:

1. Economic Benefits of Increasing Electric Grid Resilience to Weather Outages.

2. U.S. DOE Northeast Clean Energy Application Center.

3. With Some Hospitals Closed After Hurricane, E.R.’s at Others Overflow – NY Times.

Davetta Thacher is a project manager at NYSERDA, New York, N.Y.