Energy minister attends m-CHP launch

Energy minister Mike O'Brien attended the launch last night of a new product designed to help homeowners keep energy bills down and reduce their carbon footprint.

 

Mr O'Brien, energy and climate change minister at the new Department for Energy and Climate Change, was at the unveiling of the new micro-combined heat and power (microCHP) offering developed by Energetix Genlec, held in Westminster.

 

The Genlec microCHP is a new innovation in the home heating market that could help revolutionise the way we heat and power our homes by turning householders into energy generators, Energetix said.

 

Large-scale roll out of this product could also help the UK Government achieve its energy policy objectives by lowering carbon emissions, reducing fuel bills, thereby fuel poverty, and by improving energy security.

 

The launch event was attended by over 100 sustainable energy stakeholders including manufacturers, investors, civil servants, utilities and parliamentarians.

 

Energetix was able to showcase applications of the Genlec technology developed with commercial partners Daalderop, Stiebel Eltron GmbH and E.ON UK. It is also working with two other leading boiler manufacturers which remain undisclosed due to confidentiallity agreements.

 

Speaking at the event, Mike O’Brien said: “Kit that generates heat and electricity can reduce household energy bills and play an important part in the fight against climate change.

 

“We need to dramatically reduce damaging carbon emissions by 2050. Under new laws, people who fit low carbon products like the Genlec microCHP unit will soon be able to claim money for the electricity they produce.”

 

The new micro-CHP unit will fit easily into homes

William Fortescue, Energetix Genlec’s chief executive officer, added: “Improving the way that we heat and power our homes - which are responsible for around a quarter of UK CO2 emissions - over the next few years is a huge task that will require a concerted effort by Government, local authorities, energy suppliers, housing developers, manufacturers and installers.

 

“Some say that the pace of change will be too slow, or that large scale infrastructure solutions are the only ones that can make a difference, but with around 1.6 million boilers replaced in the UK every year, the size and speed of the impact that can be made by technologies such as ours and others similar is underestimated.

 

“We are committed, in working with our commercial partners, with sustainable energy stakeholders and indeed the wider public to bring about these changes, sooner rather than later.'

The launch comes just a week after Baxi announced a preferred supplier deal with British Gas for the distribution of its micro-CHP technology. 

To see the story on the Baxi and British Gas deal click here