COGENERATION IN ST. PAUL, MN
Combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration plants generate both electricity and heat from the fuel source thereby increasing efficiency and making use of the waste heat that results from generating electricity.
St. Paul Cogeneration is a combined heat and power facility that is operated and managed by Ever-Green Energy that provides heating to downtown Saint Paul and power to Xcel Energy through the repurposing of tree waste, referred to as renewable biomass fuel. CHP is a significantly more efficient way to produce energy, providing renewable and cost-effective heating solutions to Saint Paul. Since St. Paul Cogeneration utilizes tree waste, this approach helps solve a natural resource and same waste stream problem for the region, including tree waste from the spread of Emerald Ash Borer.
CHP was integrated into the system in 2003 to increase the efficiency of the Saint Paul district heating system, to utilize a local and renewable fuel source, and to provide an environmentally sound energy source for our heating customers and the local electric provider.
Operations Information
- Simultaneously produces 65 megawatts of heat and up to 25 megawatts of electricity
- 25 megawatts of this renewable electricity are supplied to the local electric utility, enough for 20,000 homes
- Excess thermal energy heats enough water for approximately 40 to 50% of District Energy’s heating needs
- Utilizes approximately 260,000 tons of biomass annually including the trees removed through Emerald Ash Borer management efforts.
- Natural gas is used as a secondary fuel in the combined heat and power boiler.
