TRENDS IN INDUSTRIAL POWER PLANTS.

Evolution of industrial power plants has turned a full circle, with industry again increasing the percentage of electrical power that it generates. What was first called simply on-site generation became a 'total energy system' in the 1970s, and today is called a 'cogeneration plant'. Estimated installed capacity of industrial power plants is about 15,000 MW and the potential is about 44,000 MW by the year 2000. With abundant coal reserves, manufacturers are speeding up the development of circulating fluidized bed boilers to burn this fuel without damage to the environment. Energy storage systems are helping to reduce the energy costs for some industrial operations.