CHP Fundamentals2 / 13
CHP Technologies (Gas, Biomass)
Reciprocating engines, microturbines, Stirling engines; pros and cons; typical sizes.
10 min read · Jacob Willis, Net Zero Lead · Last reviewed July 2026
CHP is a principle, not a single machine. Several prime-mover technologies turn fuel into electricity and recoverable heat, each suited to a different scale, heat grade and application, and the choice follows the site rather than a league table. This lesson covers the main prime movers, the fuels they can run on, and how to match technology to duty.
In this lesson
- 01Reciprocating gas engines
- 02Gas turbines
- 03Micro-CHP, Stirling engines and fuel cells
- 04Fuels: where the carbon case lives
- 05Sources and further reading