Performance Results and Lessons Learned from Austin Energy's Packaged Cooling-Heating-Power System

ABSTRACT According to many industry experts, we have already reached the top of our gas bubble—the rate of discovery of future gas reserves is increasing at a pace slower than the rate of increase in demand. These experts paint an unfavorable scenario for the day that the supply and demand curves intersect. Some pundits believe this intersection could be as soon as 2025. We can have optimism for the long-term prospects of energy because numerous initiatives are under way to replace our dependence on finite supplies of fossil fuels. A multitude of government and private programs promise to increase the feasibility of renewable energy sources such as hydrogen, solar, wind and biogas. Perhaps the energy “wreck” that some experts are forecasting will be forestalled forever by the introduction of renewable energy into the daily routines of our personal and business lives. An added risk for delivery of reliable power is the electricity transmission infrastructure. While investments in electric generation assets...