Mini cogeneration schemes using microturbines in Mexico are applicable to all developing countries. Modifications to the law of public service of electric power in Mexico makes it possible for industries to have permission from the Secretary of Energy and/or the Regulatory Energy Commission to develop cogeneration schemes. Generators could give their surplus power and energy to the electric utility. This implies that cogeneration schemes can operate synchronized to the electric utility system. The spirit of development of cogeneration schemes is sustained by the best use of the country's resources. The industries that may develop cogeneration schemes are those that require steam as a part of the industrial process or have exothermic processes such as paper mills, cement plants, sugar mills, petrochemical industries, steel mills, and refineries among others. These mentioned industries are users of electric power, and their demands and consumption are measured in terms of MW and MWh. At the present time, they are beginning to develop cogeneration schemes in Mexico in the area of Altamira and Tamaulipas with power wheeling to Monterrey and Nuevo Leon, as well as in San Juan del Rio, Bueretaro. New developments of combined-cycle plants with steam generation for industrial purposes can achieve efficiencies of the order of 75%, with important reductions in generation costs.
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