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Streamlining Project Development
Streamlining Project Development
Key Tools Applicable to All Stages
What You Need to Know
The mission of the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Partnership is to increase the use of cost-effective, environmentally beneficial CHP projects nationwide. To accomplish this mission, the Partnership has developed tools and services to assist energy users installing CHP systems at their facilities.
In order for the process to advance smoothly, a CHP Champion is necessary—someone who has the interest and the will to guide the project from conception to completion. The following pages will help you become an educated CHP Champion who can save your organization time and money, reduce business risk and environmental impacts, and improve the power reliability of your facility.
These pages provide information, tools, and hints on project development, CHP technologies, and how to access the assistance of the CHP Partnership. Tools and services are available throughout the process and are divided into five stages:
Stage 1: Qualification
Goal: Determine whether CHP is worth considering at a candidate facility.
Tools and Services:
Stage 2: Level 1 Feasibility Analysis
Goal: Identify project goals and potential barriers. Quantify technical and economic opportunities while minimizing time and effort.
Tools and Services:
- Level 1 Feasibility Data Tool (XLS, 168K, About XLS)
- Sample Comprehensive Level 1 Feasibility Analysis - Ethanol Facility (PDF) (18 pp, 202K)
- Sample Comprehensive Level 1 Feasibility Analysis - Industrial Facility (PDF) (21 pp, 214K)
Stage 3: Level 2 Feasibility Analysis
Goal: Optimize CHP system design, including capacity, thermal application, and operation. Determine final CHP system pricing and return on investment.
Tools and Services:
Stage 4: Procurement
Goal: Build an operational CHP system according to specifications, on schedule and within budget.
Tools and Services:
- Procurement Guide: Selecting a Contractor/Project Developer (PDF) (7 pp, 67K)
- Procurement Guide: CHP Financing (PDF) (9 pp, 82K)
- Procurement Guide: CHP Siting and Permitting Requirements (PDF) (7 pp, 82K)
Stage 5: Operation & Maintenance
Goal: Maintain a CHP system that provides expected energy savings and reduces emissions by running reliably and efficiently.
Tools and Services:
CHP projects have proven to be cost-effective, efficient, and reliable at many industrial, institutional, and large commercial facilities nationwide.
In order to maximize the energy and economic benefits that CHP offers, projects are designed to meet a specific site's operational needs and to integrate seamlessly into existing mechanical and electrical systems. Due to the complexity of the design process, procurement can become complicated and time-consuming. Commonly, delays are created when the site's goals (e.g., reducing energy costs, increasing reliability, expanding capacity, etc.) are not clearly outlined and accounted for throughout each stage of the planning and implementation process. As the CHP Champion, you must keep these goals in mind while facilitating each stage of the CHP system's implementation.
While your specific CHP project development experience will be unique, an understanding of the CHP development process will help you overcome common obstacles at your facility. The following five pages present questions, issues, and specific choices that are integral to all CHP projects, organized in stages 1 through 5. Reviewing these pages will help you better understand the project development process in general and smooth the way for your own project's successful implementation and operation.
The CHP Partnership has developed tools and services to help at each stage of project development. We also have CHP industry Partners who can assist energy users throughout their CHP project development process. Follow the links within these pages for information about helpful services and how to access them.