Overview
The NIH Cogeneration Facility is a 28 MW gas-fired power plant in Bethesda, Maryland, United States. It provides efficient electricity and steam to the National Institutes of Health campus.
The NIH Cogeneration Facility is a gas-fired power plant located in Bethesda, Maryland, United States. With a capacity of 28 MW, it is a small-scale facility that serves the National Institutes of Health campus. The plant is owned by Power Choice/Pepco Energy Serv and is currently operational. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including the Clean Air Act (CAA) and its associated programs such as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the Acid Rain Program. As a gas-fired plant, it benefits from lower emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) compared to coal-fired plants, but still must comply with emission limits and reporting requirements. The NIH Cogeneration Facility plays a key role in providing reliable power and steam to the NIH campus, supporting critical medical research and healthcare operations. Its cogeneration technology improves overall energy efficiency by capturing waste heat for steam production, reducing the facility's carbon footprint relative to separate heat and power generation.
Environmental context
The facility is located in a suburban area near Washington, D.C., a region with moderate air quality concerns. As a gas-fired plant, it emits lower levels of SO2, NOx, and particulate matter compared to coal plants, but still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. The plant's cogeneration design enhances efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions per unit of energy output. Proximity to populated areas necessitates adherence to strict local and federal air quality regulations.
Frequently asked questions
The NIH Cogeneration Facility is located in Bethesda, Maryland, United States, on the campus of the National Institutes of Health.
It is a gas-fired cogeneration plant that produces both electricity and steam, with a capacity of 28 megawatts.
The facility is owned by Power Choice/Pepco Energy Serv.
Gas power plants in the U.S. must comply with the Clean Air Act, including NAAQS for criteria pollutants, the Acid Rain Program for SO2 and NOx, and the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) for regional emissions.
Cogeneration captures waste heat from electricity generation to produce steam, increasing overall fuel efficiency to 70-80% compared to separate heat and power systems.