Cogeneration of electricity in the St. Louis region: industrial potential
Data were obtained from the 17 largest energy users in the St. Louis Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) in order to evaluate their cogeneration potential and their current level of cogeneration activity. The types of companies in the survey include: primary metals, chemicals, glass, petroleum refining, cement, and food processing. The analysis shows a significant unrealized potential for cogeneration of electricity in the St. Louis region. Even without further incentives, a sizable portion of the thermodynamic potential is estimated to be economically viable in both the short- and long-term, but particularly in the latter. Realizing this potential would save significant amounts of energy and also have a favorable impact on the overall air quality of the St. Louis SMSA. There are, however, important barriers to cogeneration that must be overcome, namely: uncertainty over the availability of fuels other than coal; regulatory issues; costs of standby power; and existing state and Federal air-quality standards which discourage many companies at specific sites. The National Energy Act has a favorable impact on the economics of industrial cogeneration but cannot alone be viewed as strong enough to remove the remaining barriers. Several appropriate actions by local, state, and/or Federal authorities which are recommended in order to vastly improve the probability of realizing the economic potential for cogeneration are listed.
- Research Organization:
- Southern Illinois Univ., Edwardsville (USA). Center for Urban and Environmental Research and Services
- OSTI ID:
- 5165598
- Report Number(s):
- CUERS-Report-10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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290800 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Heat Utilization-- (1980-)
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320304* -- Energy Conservation
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& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Waste Heat Recovery & Utilization
AIR QUALITY
CEMENT INDUSTRY
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
CO-GENERATION
DATA ACQUISITION
DEUS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FOOD PROCESSING
GLASS INDUSTRY
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
METAL INDUSTRY
MIDWEST REGION
MISSOURI
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
POWER
POWER GENERATION
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
STANDARDS
STEAM GENERATION
USA