The greatest challenges to a DG project are the availability of cost-effective fuel stock/energy resource and managing a positive environmental profile. Fundamentally, DG is categorized in the following niches:

•    Conventional pipeline gas
•    Conventional pipeline gas + CHP
•    Renewable Energy
•    Renewable Energy + CHP

Conventional pipeline gas technologies are typified by reciprocating engine-generators. If the heat is to be recovered for “free” energy, turbines are often used since the waste heat energy stream is very concentrated and easy to utilize. The most environmentally-friendly techniques are often referred to as “renewable energy” and are typified by wind generators, solar, hydro and various combustion engine generators fueled by a landfill, digester, bio or pyrolyis gas. This category (landfill, digester, bio, pyrolysis) can have their environmental profile further enhanced by recovering the waste heat for a useful application – sometimes referred to combined heat and power (CHP).

Preon’s background and technical personnel are very well versed in the use of combustion generators (both reciprocating engine generators and micro turbines). For that reason, industries were researched to suit/accommodate our market and technical expertise. Eventually, opportunities were presented for micro turbines used for the development of coal bed methane (CBM) fields (similar to conventional pipeline gas) and pyrolysis (renewable energy + CHP) gas. Both of these venues are within the “Energy” market. Preon Technology continues to refine our integrated micro turbine solutions for the CBM application to embrace CHP – most specifically with an organic Rankin cycle (ORC).