Combined heat and power — a test-case for small-scale private generation in Britain

Abstract

The 1983 Energy Act in the UK should have paved the way for small-scale private schemes especially the cogeneration of heat and power. Two demonstration projects were set up in Streatham in 1983 and Camberwell in 1986. Experience from these has shown that anticipated cost savings are difficult to achieve. The principle factors are maintenance and reliability problems and the unfavourability of the tariff structure. The analysis is very sensitive to small changes and if the current economic climate were to alter there is every indication that small-scale packaged cogeneration of heat and power would find a place in the UK energy market, making the economic and environmental benefits of energy-efficient electricity production a reality.