Energy experts debate micro-CHP

Micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems could be installed into 12 to 18 million homes, but the fledgling market must be careful not to “over-hype” the product, according to the head of innovation at energy giant e.on.

Speaking during a debate on the future of the micro-CHP market at the Combined Heat and Power Association’s annual conference Charles Bradshaw-Smith said micro-CHP offered huge potential, but training, industry standards and installation had to be approached correctly.

Mr Bradshaw-Smith declined to say what percentage of the market his company was aiming for, but he said: “We believe these are very real numbers. We haven’t looked at what is technically possible in these figures; we have looked at what is the affordable right solution for homes.

“That is the ultimate potential and that is perhaps what we should be aiming at for 2050.

“It is my fervent belief that we do not have to over-hype this product as it is such a compelling technology. Getting it right in the first place is fundamental.

“Training is an absolutely critical issue. Everyone wants to see the scaling up of this technology as quickly as possible, but there is the possibility of killing the goose before it has laid the golden egg if the quality of installations is poor. This is a different technology to install and it is not just an incremental upgrade.”

Expectations are mounting regarding micro-CHP with Baxi planning to make its unit commercially available in the second quarter of 2009 through a preferred supplier deal with British Gas. Around 10 other manufacturers are at advanced stages of product development with e.on, for example, working with several firms including Ceramic Fuels, Whispergen and Energetix.

Julian Hughes, chief executive of Stirling engine manufacturer Microgen Engine Corporation which has worked with Baxi on its micro-CHP unit, said: “Next year is critical for micro-CHP. For years there has always been the cliché that micro-CHP is two years away from the market, but next year micro-CHP products will be available.

”We need robust products out there as quickly as possible with a mass market appeal while getting costs down and we need to educate the public to make it a less complex proposition.”

Kofi Atuah, technology acceleration manager at the Carbon Trust, said ongoing research by the trust indicated that existing micro-CHP units were suited to larger and older properties where heat load is higher and heating is required for longer periods.

He urged the industry to develop a clear way of calculating efficiency and carbon savings while being clear about the target market for individual products.

He said: “It is important that developers are clear about what their market is and what range of heat demand their product will be suitable for. You also need to be clear on what the carbon savings will be as it is important to maintain credibility in the market.”

Bob Flint, commercial director at fuel cell developer Ceres Power, said: “Will the consumer want to understand the different technologies available? They probably will not.

“They will want industry to interpret that in some kind of index or performance commitment. We need to translate the information available into something the consumer understands.”