Amongst other things, the German government’s Integrated Energy and Climate Programme (IEKP) plans to double the proportion of electricity generated by CHP plants as part of German electricity production to around 25 per cent by 2020. Natural gas, biogas and biomass are particularly suitable for generating power in the form of electricity in combination with useful heat in cogeneration (CHP) plants and, thanks to the high energy efficiency of the CHP plants, can contribute to achieving these goals.
Combined heat and power generation
Combined heat and power generationHigh contribution to energy efficiency
Projects currently being funded
CO2 capture in oxyfuel coal-fired power plants
Higher pressure and lower flow losses in turbines
Capturing CO2 using coal gasification
CO2 scrubbing (post-combustion capture)
Hydrogen gas turbines
Higher temperatures in turbines
CO2 capture using lime or metal (looping)
Separating gases using membranes
Lignite drying
More flexibility for low-emission coal-fired power plants
International cooperation
More efficient generators thanks to nanoparticles
CO2 storage facilities
Micro gas turbines
Turbine combustion that produces lower amounts of harmful substances
CO2 compressors
Comparison of power plant systems
Efficiency of over 60% for the Irsching gas and steam power plant
Materials of construction for steam temperatures of over 700 °C
Storing electricity using compressed air
High-temperature heat storage systems for flexible CCGT power plants