trigeneration

Trigeneration, also known as tri-generation or CCHP (combined cooling, heating and power), is an energy system that simultaneously produces electricity, heating, and cooling from a single energy source. It typically uses a prime mover—such as a natural gas–fired turbine, internal combustion engine, microturbine, or fuel cell—to generate electricity and to drive a heat recovery system that captures waste heat. The recovered heat is used to supply hot water or steam for heating and to power an absorption chiller or another cooling technology, providing air conditioning without a separate cooling plant.

Operation and energy flow: Fuel is burned to generate electricity; waste heat is recovered to produce thermal energy; the hot energy powers cooling. The system can be integrated with district energy networks. Storage options may be used to match demand.

Efficiency and benefits: Trigeneration improves overall energy efficiency by utilizing on-site electricity, heat, and cooling from a single fuel source. It can reduce fuel consumption and emissions compared with separate generation, and offers peak-load reduction and grid resilience. The exact performance depends on technology, fuel, climate, and load profiles.

Applications and challenges: Common in large commercial buildings (hospitals, universities, data centers) and district energy networks. Capital cost, system complexity, maintenance, and integration with existing systems are key challenges. Regulatory, permitting, and refrigerant considerations also influence feasibility. Adoption tends to be favored where there are high cooling demands coupled with heating requirements and favorable energy prices or incentives.