Reassessment of cogeneration development and policy alternatives

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5572428

Salerni, E L

Although promoted by a wide range of policy initiatives in the late 1970s, cogeneration has fallen short of its expected levels of development. This thesis examines whether new policies to further encourage it are worthwhile. Cogeneration technologies are described and an historical perspective, including past policies and studies, is presented. Next, the typical 1982 generating costs of the various cogeneration technological and fuel combinations are computed. These are compared to electric utility payments for this power to see where private congeneration development is economically feasible. Cogeneration is also examined from a social perspective using an appropriate shadow price for fuel savings and considering externalities. An extensive list of impediments to project development is then compiled and four case studies are employed to illustrate and support the above analyses and observations. Results indicate that, although dependent on site-specific technical characteristics and economic factors, cogeneration has the potential for significant private cost savings in many instances. It remains worthwhile from a social perspective as well - often exceedingly so - yet it is found that regulatory, institutional, and economic problems continue to constrain development of potentially beneficial projects.

• OSTI ID: 5572428
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
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293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320304 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Waste Heat Recovery & Utilization
COGENERATION
CONSTRAINTS
DEUS
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
POWER GENERATION
REGULATIONS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
STEAM GENERATION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT