Co/Tri-generation: Factsheet

PEOPLE
Factsheet
PRACTICES
SYSTEMS
Co/Tri-generation
Technology Explained Tri-generation (TriGen)
TriGen operates much like CoGen except with an additional

Co-generation (CoGen) energy output, where the heat produced by the plant is also used
CoGen, as the name suggests, is the simultaneous production to generate chilled water for air conditioning or refrigeration.
of electricity with the recovery and utilisation of heat (commonly An absorption chiller is linked to the CHP system to provide this
referred to as CHP - Combined Heat and Power). functionality. Absorption chillers are thermally driven chillers
that use a refrigerant and heat source to provide cooling, with
There are two types of CoGen systems: a ‘topping cycle’ and a limited additional mechanical energy required for pumping.
‘bottoming cycle’. A topping cycle is the more common of the two, For information on chiller efficiency see the Chiller Efficiency
where fuel is used to generate electricity or mechanical energy Factsheet on the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning High
at a facility and a portion of the waste heat from the power Efficiency Systems Strategy (HVAC HESS) website2.
generation is then used to provide useful thermal energy. Figure 1
shows typical system efficiency1, the input of gas energy versus
Quick Facts:
the average energy output and generation losses. Note that lower
heat recovery is associated with higher electricity recovery. The
fundamental reason gas is used as the primary fuel for CoGen and Australia has 3,338 MW of installed CoGen, 592 MW
TriGen is because, per energy unit output, gas emits less carbon of which is fuelled by renewable sources3
dioxide (CO2) than electricity or diesel. In addition, the wholesale
price of gas is less expensive than electricity in today’s market. A CoGen system makes use of 70-80% of the energy
in the fuel, compared to 33-35% for a conventional
Figure 1 - CoGen System - Energy Input v Energy Output coal-fired power station4
Key benefits from CoGen and TriGen applications include:
` onsite, efficient production of electricity, heat and cooling

` reduced energy costs through peak demand energy reduction
` potential reductions in CO2 emissions by substituting grid
electricity with gas as primary fuel (if waste heat is used fully)
` potential for improving a building’s NABERS base building
energy and Green Star ratings.
Considerations
The following aspects should be considered when investigating

A bottoming cycle CoGen system principally produces useful CoGen or TriGen as a means to supply energy for your project:
heat for a manufacturing process via fuel combustion or a heat- ` the technology should only be considered once other priority
generating chemical reaction, and recovers energy from the energy efficiency measures are implemented to reduce the
exhaust heat to generate electricity via a waste heat recovery projected energy demand for the site
boiler and steam turbine. This type of application is most common ` savings projected in the short-term may not be replicated in
in process industries that use high temperature furnaces that the long-term due to fuel price volatility
would otherwise vent waste heat to the environment.
1 USEPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership – Efficiency Benefits: http://epa.gov/chp/basic/efficiency.html

2 http://ee.ret.gov.au/
3 Clean Energy Council cogeneration project data, July 2011
4 http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/Browse_by_Topic/ClimateChange/responses/mitigation/Emissions/Clean
HVAC HESS Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning High Efficiency Systems Strategy September 2013 1
Co/Tri-generation
` variations in a building’s operation and energy demand will The Strategy consists of a number of complementary measures
impact on system efficiency i.e. if demand for waste heat that fall under three broad initiatives – People, Practices and
reduces, using gas to generate electricity for power only is Systems. This Co/Tri-Gen factsheet specifically relates to Systems.
far less efficient than importing from the national grid. If this It is one of a suite of factsheets developed to provide a quick
occurs, the system could actually result in an energy cost overview and reference to inform, educate, and encourage
for the project energy efficiency in the HVAC industry.
` security of fuel supply may not always be certain
` if upgrading an existing energy plant, it is vital the payback Case Study5
on capital investment and maintenance costs are realistic
for the project Project: Coca Cola Place – 40 Mount Street, Sydney
` connection requirements with the local electricity distributor
should be determined.
The Coca Cola Place building, completed in early 2012
has a 774kW trigeneration system installed to generate
Project Requirements low-carbon heating, power and cooling for the building.
When considering installing a CoGen or TriGen system, there The project demonstrates a unique arrangement with the
are a series of issues that need to be taken into account, all of property developer Investa and Cogent Energy, supplier
which will differ according to project-specific parameters. It is of the trigeneration system. The generation of low-carbon
recommended that an engineering firm be consulted for any energy at Coca Cola Place also benefits the neighbouring
project to review the application, costs and benefits. All of the Deutsche Bank Place building, also developed by Investa.
following project characteristics must exist in order for the To see how, visit http://cogentenergy.com.au
system to be worthwhile installing:
` a concurrent heat and power demand; and
` extended hours of operation; and
` existing inefficient systems (if installing in existing building)
and applications for the new system.
Typical building applications for these systems, where

the above characteristics apply, include:
` precinct/community scale developments
` hospitals and other healthcare facilities
` hotel and leisure facilities
` manufacturing process facilities
` educational facilities, universities and TAFEs.
Coca Cola Place Deutsche Bank Place
HVAC HESS
HVAC HESS is a ten year strategy under the National Strategy
on Energy Efficiency that aims to drive long term improvements
in energy efficiency of HVAC systems Australia-wide. Under
the Energy Efficiency Working Group, the Buildings Committee
manages the implementation of the HVAC Strategy. This
committee is comprised of representatives from Australian,
State and Territory Governments.
The Strategy takes a whole of life perspective in targeting HVAC

efficiency improvement, encompassing the design, manufacture,
installation, operation and maintenance stages of the HVAC
lifecycle.
5 Case study sourced from: Cogent Energy Ltd

6 www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/143365/130617_EC_ITEM02_ATTACHMENTD.PDF
Co/Tri-generation
Precinct Scale Masterplan
City of Sydney TriGen Masterplan6
As part of their Sustainable Sydney 2030 Strategy, the

city of Sydney has set itself the target of reducing carbon
emissions by 70% by 2030 – one of the most ambitious
targets of any Australian Government.
A major component to help reach this target is the plan to

power Sydney’s buildings with low-carbon energy systems.
The city has signed a heads of agreement with Cogent

Energy Ltd, owned by Origin, Australia’s largest energy
company, over the building and operation of a trigeneration
energy network. This is planned to supply the city and
privately-owned buildings in three areas: CBD North,
CBD South and Pyrmont/Ultimo.
A series of HVAC HESS factsheets can be found at:

http://ee.ret.gov.au/
Acknowledgements
The Buildings Committee wishes to thank Norman Disney

& Young for their valued contribution to this factsheet.

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PEOPLE

Technology Explained Tri-generation (TriGen)

TriGen operates much like CoGen except with an additional

Key benefits from CoGen and TriGen applications include:

` onsite, efficient production of electricity, heat and cooling

The following aspects should be considered when investigating

1 USEPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership – Efficiency Benefits: http://epa.gov/chp/basic/efficiency.html

Typical building applications for these systems, where

The Strategy takes a whole of life perspective in targeting HVAC

5 Case study sourced from: Cogent Energy Ltd

Precinct Scale Masterplan

City of Sydney TriGen Masterplan6

As part of their Sustainable Sydney 2030 Strategy, the

A major component to help reach this target is the plan to

The city has signed a heads of agreement with Cogent

A series of HVAC HESS factsheets can be found at:

The Buildings Committee wishes to thank Norman Disney

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