Analysis of Small Scale Decentralized Cogeneration in Southern Italy

During the last decade, small-scale combined heat and power systems have become a viable alternative to conventional power supply and boiler-based heating system in many types of applications. In order to evaluate the energetic, environmental and economic feasibility of domestic cogeneration in Italy, an analysis of energy demand profiles of a 120 m2 house has been performed and a simulation, based on a spreadsheet, of a microcogeneration ystem based on a 6 kWel gas fired internal combustion engine has been developed. In order to identify the right application for cogeneration in the domestic sector, an energetic, economic and environmental analysis has been performed varying some parameters, such as number of dwellings, operating mode and reference systems. The introduction of microcogeneration system allows primary energy savings ranging between 6% and 13%, avoided emissions of CO2 between 8 and 18% and a payback-period lower than 5 years starting from 8 dwellings.