Cogeneration involves the co-production of beneficial heat and electricity. It can involve capturing waste heat that is a byproduct of coal- and gas-fired power production, where the captured heat can be used to heat water or buildings, manufacture products, or create more electricity. It can also involve the capture of waste heat from an industrial or commercial process that is then used to generate electricity, as in the pulp and paper industry. Cogeneration reduces emissions by displacing the consumption of fossil fuels that would otherwise have been used.
