Micro-trigeneration for energy sustainability: Technologies, tools and trends

Abstract The path towards energy sustainability is the incremental adoption of available technologies, practices and policies that help to decrease environmental impact of energy sector, with adequate standards of energy services. Trigeneration systems use waste heat from prime movers to generate heating and cooling along with power. They are more efficient, less polluting & more economic than conventional systems. Small scale trigeneration power plants, typically, below 15 kWe, are called micro-trigeneration plants. In such systems, over 80% of fuel energy is converted to useable energy. Over-exploitation of fossil resources has led to increase in pollutants and CO2 levels in atmosphere, causing severe health hazards. Low carbon society is less dependent on fuels with high carbon content. Also, Kyoto protocol set reduction targets for the nations. Alternative fuels promise sustainable development, energy conservation, efficiency and environmental preservation. Various alternate fuels & micro-trigeneration technologies can be combined, leading to sharp decrease in almost all the emissions. This paper presents a brief review of micro-trigeneration systems. They are projected as strategic means to achieve energy security and efficiency, with positive impact on economy, simultaneously reducing environmental threats, leading to sustainable development.

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