A comprehensive thermodynamic modelling is reported of a trigeneration system for cooling, heating (and/or hot water) and electricity generation. This trigeneration system consists of a gas turbine cycle, an organic Rankine cycle (ORC), a single-effect absorption chiller and a domestic water heater. Energy and exergy analyses, environmental impact assessments and related parametric studies are carried out, and parameters that measure environmental impact and sustainability are evaluated. The exergy efficiency of the trigeneration system is found to be higher than that of typical combined heat and power systems or gas turbine cycles. The results also indicate that carbon dioxide emissions for the trigeneration system are less than for the aforementioned systems. The exergy results show that combustion chamber has the largest exergy destruction of the cycle components, due to the irreversible nature of its chemical reactions and the high temperature difference between the working fluid and flame temperature. The parametric investigations show that the compressor pressure ratio, the gas turbine inlet temperature and the gas turbine isentropic efficiency significantly affect the exergy efficiency and environmental impact of the trigeneration system. Also, increasing the turbine inlet temperature decreases the cost of environmental impact, primarily by reducing the combustion chamber mass flow rate. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.