ISO 26382:2010

Overview

ISO 26382:2010 specifies technical declarations for cogeneration systems (CGS) used in planning, evaluation and procurement. It covers facilities that simultaneously supply electric power and heating and/or cooling (cogeneration, also known as combined heat and power - CHP). The standard defines required project information, check items for CGS planning, procedures to derive satisfactory system configurations, and a detailed process diagram of key development steps.

Key topics and requirements

• Project information and site analysis
  • Site conditions (weather, air and water quality, seismic and soil data, noise/vibration limits)
  • Fuel characteristics and supply agreements
  • Regulatory and policy constraints (emissions, permits, subsidies)
• Energy demand assessment
  • Electric and thermal load profiles (peak/minimum, seasonal and daily variation)
  • Delivery specifications (voltage, frequency, flow, temperature, return conditions)
  • Facility classification (hospital, hotel, industrial plant, district heating, etc.)
• CGS system design
  • Selection of prime mover types (gas turbine, reciprocating internal combustion engines, steam turbine)
  • Heat recovery methods and thermal medium (steam, hot/chilled water, oil)
  • Generator output, rated and partial-load efficiencies
• Evaluation methods
  • Economic evaluation: life‑cycle cost (LCC), net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), payback period
  • Energy‑saving and environmental evaluations (fuel use, emissions)
  • Availability, reliability and maintenance planning
  • Sensitivity analysis and comparison with a conventional, non-cogeneration system
• Procurement guidance
  • Primary information for inquiry phase and formal procurement
  • Job classification for supplier information and works
• Supporting annexes
  • Typical evaluation procedures, life‑cycle costing method, diagrams and flowcharts, calculation methods for payback and total profit

Applications and who uses it

ISO 26382:2010 is used by:

• Energy planners and project developers evaluating CHP/CGS feasibility
• Mechanical and electrical engineers designing cogeneration plants
• Procurement officers preparing tender documents and technical specifications
• Financial analysts conducting LCC, NPV and IRR assessments
• Facility owners/operators (hospitals, hotels, industrial plants, district energy providers)
• Consultants and regulators assessing compliance with policy and emissions requirements

Practical benefits include standardized checklists for planning, consistent evaluation metrics for comparisons, and clearer procurement requirements that reduce project risk and support lifecycle cost‑based decision making.

Related standards

• Normative reference: ISO 15663-2:2001 (Life-cycle costing guidance) - used for LCC and economic calculations.

Keywords: ISO 26382, cogeneration systems, CGS, CHP, planning, evaluation, procurement, life-cycle cost, energy efficiency, cogeneration planning.