Analysis of advanced energy chain typologies

A method for estimating the effectiveness and CO 2 emissions of advanced energy conversion systems from primary to final energy is presented. A traditional condensing power plant for electricity production and a fuel boiler for heat production based on natural gas were used as the reference system. Several potentially better energy chains were analysed including CHP, tri‐generation, heat pumps and efficiency improvements in final energy use. All above solutions could provide clear reductions in primary energy use and emissions, in most cases tens of per cents, but the results are sensitive to operational conditions. In a heat pump system, the primary energy savings are considerable but emission reductions may turn out to be marginal or even negative whereas in co‐generation the emission reductions are higher than energy savings. Striving for high conversion efficiencies would ensure sustained benefits from the advanced energy chain typologies over the reference system even in the less favourable cases. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.