Each year World Cogeneration Day highlights one key aspect of the combined heat and power industry. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken center stage, yet behind-the-scenes heroes have kept the lights on and the power moving. World Cogeneration Day 2020 is designed to celebrate the inspirational commitment of the people involved in the CHP power sector, often thanklessly and tirelessly working to keep the lights on and the facilities running smoothly.

On this day we encourage all of you to give a shout out and a special acknowledgment to these stalwart operators of the thousands of energy-efficient cogeneration plants that keep providing reliable, resilient electricity, heat, and cooling. While disaster planning is part of electric and gas utilities' DNA, which regularly deals with hurricanes, earthquakes, cyberattacks and other disruptions that threaten to disable critical infrastructure, this Corona Virus epidemic has brought challenges not normally seen. This is the year to celebrate these leaders, operators and team members.

Despite inconveniences too numerous to mention, these people have been vigilant about contingency planning and keeping a resilient grid for all of us to enjoy. The integrated worldwide power grid has been described as the "world’s biggest machine" and the people who run that machine say they’re prepared to keep the lights on as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.

We all know that the medical professionals and first-responders dealing with the epidemic are working very long hours and our goal is to share acknowledgment also with those behind-the-scenes teams who keep the power running and the lights on. Operations and maintenance activities are considered life-sustaining and can continue throughout the pandemic.

Without a stable energy supply, health and welfare are threatened, and the economy cannot function. Policies identify the Energy Sector as uniquely critical because it provides an “enabling function” across all critical infrastructure sectors. The energy infrastructure supplies fuels to the transportation industry, electricity to households and businesses, and other sources of energy that are integral to growth and production.

It's time to celebrate all those involved in the cogeneration sector at this precarious time in our world health pandemic.  They have stories to tell and share. Take the time to chronicle all the activities now, so that they can be highlighted on September 4, 2020, World Cogeneration Day.