The present disclosure relates to combined heat and power plants. The teachings thereof may be embodied in methods for operating such a plant to provide electrical and thermal energy to a consumer unit, comprising: simultaneously generating electrical energy and heat in a process flow based on a demand for electricity; storing heat generated in excess of a demand for heat; and increasing a heat output when a difference between an actual provided heat output and the demand for heat is exceeded.

A solar thermal combined heating and power system includes: a solar thermal array; a thermal energy storage unit; a generator unit configured to provide electrical power to the structure; an array-to-storage heat transfer device configured to transfer thermal energy from the solar thermal array to the thermal energy storage unit; a storage-to-generator heat transfer device configured to transfer thermal energy from the thermal energy storage unit to the generator unit; a storage-to-water heat transfer device configured to transfer thermal energy from the thermal energy storage unit to the water reservoir; a storage-to-air heat transfer device configured to transfer thermal energy from the thermal energy storage unit to the interior air of the structure; and a control unit configured to operate the array-to-storage heat transfer device, the storage-to-generator heat transfer device, the storage-to-water heat transfer device, and the storage-to-air heat transfer device.