Heat and power technology to top agenda
Energy Editor
The International District Energy Association is holding its 100th Annual Conference & Trade Show “District Energy/CHP 2009: Local Energy, Global Solution” at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City June 28-July 1, just outside Washington, D.C..
Combined heat and power is a proven, effective technology to increase the efficiency of power plants and convert 40 percent of the fuel they burn into useful electricity. Combined heat and power systems recover the fuel that is wasted up in smokestacks and use this surplus heat to heat and/or cool buildings in a surrounding area through a district energy system.
“There is an increased interest in leveraging the strengths of district energy and combined heat and power to help cities, communities and college campuses optimize their energy efficiency, enhance energy security and cut harmful emissions,” says Robert P. Thornton, president of IDEA. “We’ve put together a program of real-life applications that demonstrate technologies that already work and are delivering for our economy and the environment.”
Featured plenary session speakers Monday are Phil Sharp, president of Resources for the Future; Olivier Barbaroux, chairman of Veolia Energy-Dalkia; and Thomas Casten, chairman of Recycled Energy Development Ltd.
A special session features presentations from award-winning district energy systems sharing their success stories of energy-efficiency and sustainable solutions, including discussions on using surplus heat, biomass, deep lake water cooling, and innovative thermal storage.
The conference trade show features nearly 90 national and international exhibitors, all with district energy and/or combined heat and power-related experience. The full program is available for download at click here