| ID | 105800 |
| Title Proper | Feasibility of small-scale gas engine-based residential cogeneration in Spain |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Celador, A. Campos ; Erkoreka, A ; Escudero, K Martin ; Sala, JM |
| Publication | 2011. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Nowadays all countries are developing their own policies to promote cogeneration in the small-scale residential sector. In this paper the feasibility of small-scale gas engine-based residential cogeneration plants under the current Spanish regulation is studied. A unitary thermal load profile is obtained to characterised the thermal demand of residential applications in Spain. This unitary profile is used to analyse the potential of cogeneration in the small-scale range of powers (100-1000 kW). A complete characterisation of the gas fuelled engines in the market is performed and subsequently used to evaluate the economic feasibility within the selected range by means of a self-tailored simulation model. It is underlined how the thermal storage is a crucial element that should be suitably included in a residential cogeneration plant and the distortions that the actual pricing system adds to the profitability of residential plants of different sizes. Finally a sensibility study is carried out in order to evaluate how the Spanish regulation is able to deal with future variations in the energy prices. It is shown that a rise in the price of the natural gas increases the current feasibility of a plant while a decrease descends the profitability. |
| `In' analytical Note | Energy Policy Vol. 39, No. 6; Jun 2011: p3813-3821 |
| Journal Source | Energy Policy Vol. 39, No. 6; Jun 2011: p3813-3821 |
| Key Words | Cogeneration ; Spanish Regulation ; Feasibility Study ; Spain |