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Industrial Co-Production

RESOURCES › CLEAN GENERATION & TRANSITION FUELS

Maximizing Efficiency and Value in Energy Systems

In modern industrial and agricultural engineering, co-production (or polygeneration) refers to the simultaneous manufacture of two or more high-value outputs, such as electricity, process heat, biofuels, biochemicals, and soil amendments, from a single feedstock or primary conversion facility. By capturing energy and material streams that were traditionally treated as waste, co-production significantly improves overall thermodynamic efficiency, lowers carbon intensity, and diversifies commercial revenue streams.

Core Pathways & Co-Production Models

Co-production strategies span across traditional industrial manufacturing and emerging biorefineries across three core technological models:

Combined Heat & Power (CHP / Cogeneration)

Generating process steam and electricity simultaneously from a single fuel source (such as natural gas, industrial off-gas, or agricultural bagasse), achieving thermal efficiencies exceeding 75–80%.

Biorefinery Coproduct Valorization

Extracting high-value chemical intermediates, bio-adhesives, animal feeds, and biochar alongside primary liquid fuels or hydrogen from agricultural and forestry biomass.

Polygeneration & Industrial Symbiosis

Integrating chemical synthesis, power generation, and carbon capture so that waste heat, tail gases, and physical residues from one unit operation serve as inputs for neighboring processes.

Explore the Industrial Co-Production Resource Repository

Access all peer-reviewed literature, state technical reports, and workshop presentation slide decks.

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Funding & Acknowledgments

The Louisiana Energy Extension Service (LEES) is primarily funded via the State of Louisiana through legislative support approved by Gov. Jeff Landry, EIL-based funding, and donations from various industry stakeholders.