Feasibility analysis of CHP in an olive processing industry

Abstract The economic viability of a combined heat and power system in a typical olive processing industry is presented in this work. Special attention is paid to the analysis and discussion of energy savings and environmental benefits, with allocation based on shared emission savings between electrical and thermal energy. The installation of a combined heat and power plant based on the gasification of olive stone and on the use of the synthesis gas in an internal combustion engine, as referenced to a separate production mode plant, might lead to the achievement of significant reductions of both primary energy demand (49%) and CO2 emissions, with as short payback time as 3.6 years. This way, a sustainable business can be set as complementary to the productive sector itself.