Potential of cogeneration in overcoming rising intermittency in electricity supply highlighted by pan-European industry forum. A meeting of cogeneration trade associations from across north Europe – held in London on the 9th September – highlighted the significant role combined heat and power (CHP) has to play in helping overcome increased intermittency in energy supply, resulting from growing uptake of renewable forms electricity generation such as wind and wave power. The meeting heard how cogeneration plants are finding new roles in providing highly energy efficient balancing services to the grid, compensating for the variability of renewable electricity supply. The scale of the issue was highlight as part of the session. A 1 m/s drop in wind speed in Denmark results in the need for an additional 350 MW of electricity to be supplied from other sources. Examples of how CHP is helping overcome the issue were also provided. In the Netherlands, small CHP in green houses are helping meet peak electricity demand by operating according to demand cycle and using or storing the useful heat as necessary for future use. “Small and medium sized CHP works well as a highly energy efficient balancing service for wind. It is very encouraging to see a demand for CHP owners to supply these kind of services to national grids on a commercial basis”, explained Fiona Riddoch Managing Director of COGEN Europe. The London meeting, looking at ‘Potentials for Cogeneration’, was hosted by the UK Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA). Representatives of other cogeneration trade association from countries across the north of Europe participated in the meeting. The meeting is one of three sub-regional meetings taking place across Europe this month, gathering final input for the first European National Potentials Report which will be published by the CODE project in October this year. The CODE project is independently monitoring the implementation of the CHP Directive in Europe and will comment on member states progress in promoting CHP. END The European association for the promotion of cogeneration Avenue des Arts 3-4-5 · B-1210 Brussels · Belgium Tel: +32 2 772 82 90 · Fax: +32 2 772 50 44 · Email: info@cogeneurope.eu · Website: www.cogeneurope.eu For more information please contact: Dr Fiona Riddoch, Managing Director Tel: +32 2 772 8290 Fax: + 32 2 772 5044 Email: fiona.riddoch@cogeneurope.eu Tom Fern, Communications Manager, CHPA Tel: +44 207 976 4296 Fax: + 44 207 828 0310 Email: paul.gardiner@chpa.co.uk