Cogeneration: a threat or an opportunity for the electric utility industry

The merits and potential benefits of cogeneration which are projected to occur in the USA because of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978 are pointed out. A cogeneration program presently being developed by Arkansas Power and Light Company (AP and L) makes available benefits far in excess of those PURPA was created to obtain. The program includes gasification of solid fuels to produce synthetic medium BTU gas (MBG) which is fired to enterprises requiring process heat and is used to fire combined cycle cogeneration plants (C/sup 3/). The C/sup 3/ plants are to use multiple combustion turbines /waste heat recovery boiler units, etc. These energy saving measures are described and various cogeneration cycles are illustrated. Proposed legislation to promote cogeneration development is presented in appendices.