Combined Heat and Power Technology Fact Sheet: Reciprocating Engines

This fact sheet provides an overview of reciprocating internal combustion engines, which are a mature technology used for power generation, transportation, and many other purposes. For CHP installations, reciprocating engines have capacities that range from 1 kW to 10 MW. Multiple engines can be integrated to deliver capacities exceeding 10 MW in a single plant. Several manufacturers offer reciprocating engines for distributed power generation. These engines can operate on various fuels—including natural gas, biogas, renewable natural gas (RNG), and hydrogen—and are well suited for CHP service.