Summary: Most power plants waste much energy because they are so inefficient. Moving them closer to where their power is used would waste much less energy
Waste heat recovery is a key concept in Europe, sadly lost here in the U.S.
In Copenhagen they've integrated their energy generation, waste management, and the heat supply for all of the city's buildings.
It's hard to imagine any city in the U.S. embracing the idea of waste-incineration plant smokestacks in their neighborhoods. But that's what they've done all over Denmark, in the interest of capturing waste heat, reducing CO2, eliminating fossil fuels -- and reaching nearly total energy efficiency.
Novel ideas, too new and risky for American cities? Hardly. Copenhagen has been doing this since 1903.
Comments for Power Plants & efficiency
This piece belongs to the series "Stories of Technology"
Produced by Bill Hammack
Other pieces by William S. Hammack
Rating Summary
1 comment
Denis Du Bois
Posted on October 10, 2010 at 08:48 PM | Permalink
Great summary
Waste heat recovery is a key concept in Europe, sadly lost here in the U.S.
In Copenhagen they've integrated their energy generation, waste management, and the heat supply for all of the city's buildings.
It's hard to imagine any city in the U.S. embracing the idea of waste-incineration plant smokestacks in their neighborhoods. But that's what they've done all over Denmark, in the interest of capturing waste heat, reducing CO2, eliminating fossil fuels -- and reaching nearly total energy efficiency.
Novel ideas, too new and risky for American cities? Hardly. Copenhagen has been doing this since 1903.