The Alliance for Industrial Efficiency released the following statement upon learning that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced nearly $25 million for eight organizations to further the installation of cost-effective, highly efficient combined heat and power (CHP) technologies.
WASHINGTON (Nov. 28, 2017) — “The Alliance for Industrial Efficiency applauds the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for recognizing the value of the CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships (CHP TAPs) by announcing $25 million in funding for the network of eight CHP TAPs housed at institutions across the country over the next five years. This network provides technical expertise to remove policy or market barriers and further the deployment of clean and efficient CHP systems. By supporting the use of CHP, the TAPs strengthen our nation’s energy security; enhance our resiliency to natural and manmade disasters; save American industrial, commercial and institutional consumers money; increase economic competitiveness; and reduce harmful air and water emissions. Because it generates both heat and electricity from a single fuel source, CHP is twice as efficient as conventional power generation. What’s more, CHP utilizes locally available fuel to increase energy independence. By funding the CHP TAPs, DOE is supporting the energy system and electric grid of the future and providing technical resources to help manufacturers, universities, and institutions save money, reduce their energy use, increase their reliability in the face of extreme weather events that may compromise the grid, and lower their emissions.
“Recent natural disasters—such as hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria—have reaffirmed the importance of constructing more efficient and resilient energy systems, particularly for critical infrastructure. Because CHP systems can operate independently of the grid, they can keep the lights and power on during hurricanes, severe flooding, cyber incidents, and other states of emergency. The CHP TAPs will help develop strategies, policies and technology solutions to increase resilience to natural disasters and improve grid and electric delivery reliability.
“DOE has identified 149 gigawatts—the equivalent of nearly 300 conventional power plants—of remaining technical potential for CHP at facilities across the country. Today, DOE made an important down-payment to help realize this potential, allowing end users nationwide to identify opportunities and overcome barriers to CHP use.
“We look forward to Congress providing the critical additional funding in the 2018 budget to support the complementary activities at DOE that advance existing CHP technologies while researching and developing the CHP and grid resources needed to ensure the CHP TAPs are able to fulfill their mission of advancing technology solutions that enhance the resiliency, competitiveness, availability and security of America’s energy infrastructure.”
Read DOE’s press release online here.
Download a PDF copy of our full statement here.
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The Alliance for Industrial Efficiency is a diverse coalition that includes representatives from the business, environmental, labor and contractor communities. We are committed to enhancing manufacturing competitiveness and saving energy and money through industrial energy efficiency, particularly in the form of clean and efficient CHP and WHP.