COMBINED HEAT-AND-POWER IMPLEMENTATION IN THE UK - PAST, PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENTS

The world is insufficiently concerned with ensuring its long-term ener gy supplies. For instance, a severe reduction of the availability of c heap fossil fuels is likely to occur in the mid twenty-first century. However, there are several steps that could be taken in the UK to ensu re the sustainability of adequate power supplies (e.g. a Severn Barrag e tidal-power harnessing system capable of satisfying similar to 8% of the electricity needs of the UK; a national campaign for the implemen tation, where economic, of combined heat-and-power (CHP) installations ). The implementation of CHP technology is, even now, frequently an ec onomically justifiable option which is capable of providing highly eff icient, environmentally friendlier electricity and heat supplies. A va riety of fuels, including oil, coal, natural gas, refuse, sewage, nucl ear power and renewables, can be used as the energy source. Despite be ing thermodynamically attractive, the pace of adoption of CHP in the U K has been disappointingly slow. An historical record of the evolution of CHP as well as community (district) heating (DH) in the UK is pres ented. Recent developments and a possible future scenario for energy s upplies, affecting the rate of adoption of CHP-DH systems in the UK, a re outlined.