Title: Attitudes of the electric utilities towards CHP in the European Union

Authors: Nadine Dufait

Addresses: Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium

Abstract: In the European Union (EU) there is a growing recognition of combined heat and power (CHP) as a way of saving primary energy and of limiting emissions of noxious substances. However, the realisation of CHP projects is dependent on various factors, and so CHP develops differently in the member states. The attitudes of the electric utilities towards CHP are an important determinant. By order of the EC-DG XVII (THERMIE), VITO in cooperation with IVEN (Institute Valencia de l|Energia, E) and the OPETs (Organisations for the Promotion of Energy Technologies) evaluated the utility policies towards CHP. The assessment is mainly based on a questionnaire sent to sixty-four utilities in the EU in February 1993. We make a distinction between three ways of utility involvement: expansion of utility owned CHP, participation in joint-ventures with cogenerators, and support for independent CHP. Generally speaking, the utility attitudes are evolving in a positive direction, but the European utility cannot yet be labelled as an energy service company.

Keywords: combined heat and power; CHP; cogeneration; European Union; EU utility policies; energy policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1996.063444

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1996 Vol.8 No.4, pp.329-337

Published online: 14 Jul 2014 *

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