Evaluating Sites for Industrial Cogeneration in Chicago

Cogeneration is an industrial energy conservation technology that is particularly suited to urban applications. Large cities and metropolitan areas have large numbers of energy intensive industrial firms as well as commercial buildings; universities and hospital complexes; and new, densely populated residential developments that have large thermal and electric demands. Potential sites have been evaluated as part of a project to encourage industrial cogeneration applications in Chicago. Energy-intensive industries and commercial, industrial, and residential facilities were grouped by energy use type. Natural gas and electricity consumption data then were used to develop energy use profiles by energy use type and location. Complementary thermal energy use profiles and the geographical proximity of firms and facilities were used to exclude unfavorable sites. Thirty-four sites were then evaluated in detail and ranked according to their suitability for consideration in detailed feasibility studies of different cogeneration technologies