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Evaluation Guidelines
The Texas Government Code (10 Tex. Govt. Code §2311.002) requires entities responsible for all critical governmental facilities to formally consider the feasibility of implementing combined heat and power (CHP) technology prior to the construction, extensive renovation or replacement of major heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment in critical buildings and facilities
SECO has established a set of guidelines for evaluating critical government facilities for CHP purposes.
Download the CHP Evaluation Guidelines (PDF)
Technical Assistance Partnership
The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) is part of a team that supports the U.S. Department of Energy's Southcentral Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership (CHP TAP). This initiative promotes, assists and seeks to transform the market for combined heat and power in the nation's southcentral region. The center provides resources and expertise to help industrial, commercial, federal, institutional and other large energy users consider and evaluate CHP for their facilities. The center also assists them throughout the project development process, from initial CHP screening to installation. Center staff also work with engineers, architects, city planners, project developers, state agencies and policymakers to increase understanding and awareness of CHP including its technology, benefits, applications, regulatory requirements and other project-specific information.
For more information about this program, visit HARC's website.
CHP in Texas
Visit the Department of Energy’s online factsheet, The State of CHP (PDF), for an overview of CHP in Texas. The factsheet contains data on current installations, technical potential, and economics for CHP.Interconnection Tool
The interconnection process in Texas for electricity loads greater than 10 megawatts is quite demanding. The average interconnection time takes anywhere from 270 days to 1,020 days, depending on project complexity. To decrease the time for interconnection and facilitate installation, SECO and HARC have designed a web-based, dynamic process map that walks project developers step by step through the interconnection process. The web tool contains all requisite information in one place with easy access to the forms and materials needed to complete each step of the process. The tool also provides helpful hints and additional context as the project developer goes through the process.
View the CHP interconnection tool on HARC's website.