With an existing central heating plant approaching the end of its useful life, Queen's University is considering the practicality of cogenerating electrical and thermal energy at its own plant. Hatch Energy is preparing technical specifications which will form the basis of a turnkey Request for Proposal.

The proposed plant will use natural gas as the primary fuel for a 10-MW combustion gas turbine generator and a heat recovery steam generator. Electrical and thermal energy profiles for the campus indicate that at certain times there will be excess electrical energy for sale to the local utility, while at others a shortfall will require purchase of electricity. The same pattern applies to thermal energy, with the existing central heating plant kicking in to match the thermal load.