Combined heat and power



Denmark has both large-scale centralised and small-scale decentralised combined heat and power stations. Combined heat and power means that power stations produce both electricity (power) and district heating.

Most large-scale combined heat and power stations use mainly coal as fuel. They use biomass or natural gas to a lesser extent. Small-scale combined heat and power stations typically use natural gas, waste, biomass or biogas as fuel.

When electricity is produced, the electricity generators must be cooled to prevent them from burning out. Lots of water is used for this, and instead of wasting it, the combined heat and power stations send the heated cooling water through a pipeline grid out to households, public institutions and enterprises etc. This is also what we know as district heating. 

Combined heat and power stations exploit their fuel to a much greater extent than power stations which only produce electricity, and moreover, the district heating from combined heat and power stations is often cheaper than other types of heating.

Links regarding combined heat and power

GeneralElectricityHeat Fuels
  1. Facts about combined heat and power in Denmark (www.ens.dk)
    The widespread use of combined heat and power is one of the most important reasons that Denmark has been able to reduce carbon emissions over several decades while fuel consumption has remained almost unchanged.

  2. Why combining heat and power is an advantage (www.energymap.dk)
    The advantages of combined heat and power production are described here.

  3. Large and small plants (www.ens.dk)
    Read more about central and decentral plants and the type of fuel they are using.

  4. Interactive map including information on Danish combined heat and power plants etc. (www.energymap.dk)
    Map of Danish combined heat and power plants etc., click on location to learn more.