Worldwide emphasis on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels has moved cogeneration to center stage for bulk power generation, according to a new study from Allied Business Intelligence, an Oyster Bay, N.Y., technology research firm. The U.S. and the European Union intend to at least double their installed cogeneration capacity by 2010, the study finds.

Global cogeneration capacity in 1998 was about 200 GW, a little more than 6 percent of world generation capacity, and approximately the same as the U.S. percentage.

Distributed cogeneration technologies will engender new multi-billion dollar markets that will change forever the way that societies furnish themselves with electricity, heating and cooling. Microturbines, fuel cells and Stirling engines will become broadly available in the next five years. Sales of these microcogenerators could total $10 billion in a decade as they power homes, small businesses and remote sites.

Cogeneration involves the production of electricity and subsequent use of waste heat for boiling water, heating buildings, running industrial processes, driving air conditioning equipment and providing district heat and power.

Allied Business Intelligence can be reached at 516/624-3113, or at www.alliedworld.com.