New developments in technology means micro-CHP is suitable for a wider range of applications - says Baxi Group.
Baxi Group has welcomed the Carbon Trust's micro-CHP Accelerator Interim report, but believes that the potential for domestic micro-CHP is greater than implied in the Trust's findings.
Baxi Group UK and Ireland CEO Martyn Coffey commented; "Baxi Group has been involved in the study with its Dachs mini-CHP unit in commercial installations, and we very much agree with the report's positive conclusions and recommendations. Installing micro-CHP as a lead boiler in applications such as guest houses, care homes and community housing schemes can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 10 tonne, and energy bills by thousands of pounds per annum.
"However we do feel that the Trust has underplayed the opportunities for domestic micro-CHP. Baxi Group believes new developments in micro-CHP will mean that the technology will be suitable for most styles of homes in the near future." The Carbon Trust report concluded that the current generation of micro-CHP systems is best suited to large homes with three or more bedrooms, or older houses where it is not currently cost effective to improve insulation, such as housing with solid brick walls.
Martyn Coffey commented; "The Carbon Trust trials provides very useful data on domestic micro-CHP, but there is evidence that some units will have significantly better operating characteristics, and can demonstrate better overall efficiencies and carbon savings. There are a number of critical factors to a successful domestic micro-CHP appliance and they would include the heat to power ratio, the ability of the unit to modulate and how quickly the unit can start generating electricity.
"The Baxi Free Piston Stirling Engine (FPSE), for instance, which is currently undergoing field trials has much improved modulation capability, so even if heat demands drops to around 3kW, as a house reaches a comfortable temperature, the Stirling Engine will still generate electricity."
Baxi Group trials have also shown this micro-CHP engine more capable of rapidly building to 1Kw of electrical output, in a very short time frame making it more useful where there are intermittent heat demands.
Baxi Group recently held an open day for national house builders and utility organisations to mark its progress in the development of micro-CHP, which included the demonstration of a wall hung micro-CHP unit working in domestic applications, and a visit to two local homes where field trials have been carried out for almost a year.
At these sites, the performance, reliability and efficiency of the units have been closely monitored, while in the laboratory other units have undergone over 17,000 hours of endurance testing.
In November 2007 Baxi started the build of 25 Beta mCHP FPSE units which will undergo extensive laboratory and field trial testing throughout the winter of 2007/2008.
Martyn Coffey commented: "We are working with industry partners, including the Carbon Trust, to ensure that our results are independently verified as part of an ongoing development, with appliances ready for the market by quarter four, 2008."
Baxi Group's work on micro-CHP was recognised recently when it was short listed as a finalist for the Imeche Engineering the Future Award at the 2007 National Business Awards.
