Power generation with gas turbine systems and combined heat and power

This article gives an overview of power generation with gas turbine and com bined heat and power (CI IP) systems. It also presents the European Union s trategy for developing gas turbines and CHP systems. Ways to improve the pe rformance of the several types of gas turbine cycle will be a major objecti ve in the coming years. The targets are combined cycle efficiencies above 6 0% industrial gas turbine system efficiencies of at least 50% and small gas turbines efficiencies above 35% and designs for the use of fuels with less than 25% heating value of that of natural gas. The main CHP targets are th e reduction of the overall costs and the development of above 40 kW biomass -fired systems. (C) 2000 The Commission of the European Communities. Publis hed by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.