The Economic and Environmental Evaluations of Combined Heat and Power Systems in Buildings with Different Contexts: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Cogeneration systems—also known as combined heat and power systems—form a promising technology for the simultaneous generation of power and thermal energy while consuming a single source of fuel at a site. A number of prior studies have examined the cogeneration systems used in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. However, a systematic review of the economic and environmental evaluations of the system is not found in the literature. The present study aims to address this research gap by reviewing the most relevant studies on the cogeneration systems applied to buildings in different contexts (e.g., residential, commercial, and industrial) and provides systematic evaluation approaches from economic and environmental perspectives. Results show that the cogeneration system can significantly reduce energy consumption, operating costs, carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, and positive performance on other relevant parameters. The present study provides extensive evidence to show that the cogeneration system is simultaneously economically profitable and environmentally friendly in various application contexts. To achieve the maximum benefits from cogeneration systems, several practical suggestions are provided for their successful installation and implementation in real-life situations.