Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Grant Program

September 17, 2021

Summary

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) FY22 Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Grant Program provides grants for the installation of qualifying CHP systems at Maryland facilities. Entities in the commercial, industrial, critical infrastructure, institutional and educational, agriculture, hospitality, and local and State government sectors are eligible to apply to this program (see the program Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on the program webpage for more information on eligible entities).

Total funding for Fiscal Year 2022 is $3.6 million, with some restrictions based upon utility service territories of the CHP host facilities. Grants are provided under two (2) Areas of Interest (AOIs) as described below.

Area of Interest 1: Resilient and Sustainable CHP Systems

CHP systems that are capable of operating during an electric utility grid outage (those with black start and islanding capabilities), as well as CHP systems fueled by renewable sources such as renewable natural gas (RNG) or biomass are eligible to apply under this AOI. Grants are sized based on nameplate generation capacity in the table below. Net Total Project Cost is defined as the total out-of-pocket cost that remains after all other incentives and leveraged funding sources have been deducted from the initial total.

CHP System Nameplate Capacity Award Amount
Micro-CHP (< 60 kW) 50% of Net Total Project Cost OR $100,000; whichever is lower
61 kW - 500 kW $600 per kW
501 kW - 1,000 kW $550 per kW
> 1,000 kW $500 per kW, not to exceed $650,000 total

Area of Interest 2: Efficient CHP Systems

CHP systems that are installed primarily to enhance the efficiency of the host facility’s operations and reduce energy expenses are eligible to apply under this AOI. These systems are not required to operate during an electric utility grid outage. Grants are sized based on nameplate generation capacity in the table below. Net Total Project Cost is defined as the total out-of-pocket cost that remains after all other incentives and leveraged funding sources have been deducted from the initial total.

CHP System Nameplate Capacity Award Amount
Micro-CHP (< 60 kW) 40% of Net Total Project Cost OR $100,000; whichever is lower
61 kW - 500 kW $500 per kW
501 kW - 1,000 kW $450 per kW
> 1,000 kW $400 per kW, not to exceed $400,000 total

Program Restrictions

Multiple CHP systems installed as part of the same project will be considered one aggregate system under the CHP Grant Program. For example, three (3) 500 kW CHP systems installed a a host facility cannot receive three (3) separate MEA CHP Grants. They would be aggregated as a 1,500 kW system and awarded based on that total capacity.

CHP systems that are fueled by coal, fuel oil, or diesel fuel are not eligible for grants under this program. Additionally, systems that do not achieve minimum operating efficiency as specified by the program FOA (available on the program webpage) are not eligible for grants under this program.

Please review the program FOA on the MEA CHP webpage for a full list of program rules, requirements, and restrictions, available at https://energy.maryland.gov/business/Pages/MEACHP.aspx

Program Overview

Implementing Sector: State
Category: Financial Incentive
State: Maryland
Incentive Type: Grant Program
Web Site: https://energy.maryland.gov/business/Pages/MEACHP.aspx
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
  • Combined Heat & Power
  • Fuel Cells using Non-Renewable Fuels
  • Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Incentive Amount: Range from $400/kW to $600/kW based on the size and configuration of the CHP system.
Maximum Incentive: $650,000
Installation Requirements:
  1. Must be at a qualifying facility in the State of Maryland
  2. Must be one of the qualifying technologies specified in the Program FOA
  3. Must be fueled by one of the qualifying fuels specified in the Program FOA
  4. Must obtain all permits and approvals required of all authorities having jurisdiction and the local electric utility, as applicable
  5. Must achieve minimum system higher heating value (HHV) efficiencies specified by the FOA

Incentives

This program has 1 incentives
Technologies: Combined Heat & Power
Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Schools, State Government, Agricultural, Multifamily Residential, Institutional
Parameters: The incentive has a maximum of 400.00 $/kW, The incentive has a minimum of $650000.00

Contact

Name: Brandon Bowser
Organization: Maryland Energy Administration
Address: 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 755,
Baltimore MD 21230
Phone: (443) 306-0304
Email: BrandonW.Bowser@maryland.gov

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.