Answers · Project evaluation
How should you compare electricity and heat output from waste plants?
Short answer
Compare net electrical exports in MWh and useful heat exports in thermal MWh over the same period. Each should be metered and reported separately.
Gross and net electricity
Gross generation comes from the generator. Net export measures what leaves the facility after its own equipment and systems consume electricity. A grid meter and the reporting period make the figure usable.
Heat is a separate commercial output
Check the heat meter boundary and the customer contract. A combined heat and power project may generate steam year-round but export less heat outside its customer’s heating season. Compare revenue and efficiency with each output separately.
Sources
- U.S. EPA · Energy recovery from municipal solid waste
- U.S. EPA · Basic information about anaerobic digestion
Source check