Feasibility of small scale cogeneration system. The Brazilian experience

The concept of cogeneration has been known for a long time. However, the increasing use of this kind of energy generation was first motivated mainly by the two world-wide petroleum crisis of 1973 and 1979. Subsequently, institutional changes in the power sector, such as PURPA in the USA, stimulated the penetration of cogeneration technologies. This in turn encouraged technological advances, which have increased competitiveness and expanded the scope of applications. Brazil started to reform its electrical energy market so that it is now facing a process of change similar in some ways to that happened in the USA two decades ago. Due to these changes in Brazil´s energy regulation policy, cogeneration systems are becoming more and more feasible as an energy generation alternative. The aim of this study is to analyze the benefits and feasibility of cogeneration in the health care sector in the light of the institutional changes happening in Brazil