Watch Cogeneration Work

The MIT Cogeneration Project is putting technology to work for conservation by cutting costs and reducing pollution as MIT generates much of its own power. The 10 year, $40 million project uses a 20-megawatt gas turbine to produce electrical and thermal power simultaneously by utilizing the waste heat from the gas turbine to generate steam – with significant environmental benefits.

The cogeneration plant is approximately 18 percent more efficient and reduces emissions by 45 percent compared to the technology it replaces. The investment will also return millions of dollars over the life of the plant.

In 2002, the natural gas-powered facility, which has provided electricity, steam heat, and chilled water to more than 100 MIT buildings since 1995, won the Energy Star Combined Heat and Power Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.