Demonstration of 4.5 and 25 kW CARB-compliant Reciprocating Engine Micro-CHP Systems
Developing and demonstrating a CARB-compliant, engine-driven combined heat and power system
Institute of Gas Technology dba GTI Energy
Recipient
Davis, CA
Recipient Location
37th
Senate District
68th
Assembly District
$1,059,015
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The project team conducted laboratory performance and emissions baseline testing of the micro-CHP systems. The 25 kW system has finished post-improvement testing and provided meaningful data pointing to meeting CARB certification requirements. The 4.5 kW system is in the process of being installed at the demonstration site and will be operational the last quarter of 2024.
The Issue
Deployment of combined heat and power (CHP) systems has the potential to reduce primary energy consumption, decrease transmission and distribution losses, increase local reliability, and contribute to California's ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals. Micro-CHP (< 50 kW) has the potential to bring these benefits to a number of smaller markets including commercial office buildings, retail services, schools, and multi-family homes. However, the technology faces two key barriers: high cost and high emissions of criteria pollutants.
Project Innovation
This project is developing and demonstrating two cost-effective, near-zero NOx emission, reciprocating engine-based, micro-CHP systems in Southern California. The systems, sized at 4.5 kW and 25 kW, will first undergo laboratory testing to verify compliance with California Air Resources Board (CARB) Distributed Generation (DG) emissions standards and obtain CARB DG certification. If successful, they will be the only systems in their size range to be CARB DG certified, a significant step towards commercialization. The 4.5 kW and 25 kW systems will then be demonstrated at commercial buildings to generate real-world operational data. The data will then be analyzed to produce summaries of system performance and cost-benefit estimates.
Project Benefits
If commercialized, the CHP systems would be the first available reciprocating engine-based, micro-CHP products available in California. This would allow access to an underserved market with approximately 3000 MW of potential according to a recent ICF study. Adoption of these systems would lead to lower cost, greater reliability, and public health benefits.
Affordability
Conservatively assuming a 10-year life, the cost of the electricity produced by the CHP system is about 25% of the cost of grid electricity in California, delivering cost savings to facility owners.
Reliability
Distributed CHP systems increase both local and regional electric reliability. This is because they generate electricity for the local users while reducing transmission and distribution congestion regionally.
Environmental Sustainability
The CHP system far exceeded California ARB requirements for criteria pollutant emissions. In particular, laboratory tests showed NOx emission levels from the CHP system of 0.006 lb/MW-h compared to the California ARB DG Regulation of 0.07 lb/MW-h which corresponds to an order of magnitude reduction.
Subrecipients
DE Solutions, Inc.
The Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
Montrose Air Quality Services, LLC
Frontier Energy, Inc.
Marathon Engine Systems
Otto H. Rosentreter Company
Wilson Engineering Technologies, Inc
Snowden Electric Company, Inc.
Lochinvar Corporation
Match Partners
Institute of Gas Technology dba GTI Energy
The Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
Marathon Engine Systems
Lochinvar Corporation
