Combined heat and power generation is beneficial for the environment and will play a key part in the national energy turnaround. For many years E.ON has already been using such cogeneration, operating several hundred plants in Germany alone. Apart from large residential buildings, recreation centers and industrial facilities, single and two-family homes can now also profit from this technology in the shape of micro-CHP systems. These have reached market maturity and can be used for home energy modernisation. They usually have a capacity of about one kilowatt.

"We are convinced of the new technology’s potential," said Stefan Vogg, who is in charge of E.ON sales in Germany. "For several years, E.ON and leading manufacturers have engaged in a technology partnership to develop and test micro-CHP units for households. The high efficiency of this trend-setting technology can make a significant contribution to climate protection. We are therefore backing the introduction of these heating systems and providing financial support for their market launch," he added.

The gas-fired micro cogeneration systems produce both heat and electricity. Ideally, annual heat requirements are between 15,000 and 45,000 kWh. In some cases these heaters are no bigger than a washing machine and can be placed in any basement. The fuel used is natural gas or biomethane, which drives an engine that produces electricity via a generator. The waste heat is available for heating purposes.

Today the price of a micro-CHP unit, including installation, is between EUR18,000 and EUR25,000, which is still well above that of conventional gas-fired condensing boilers. Nonetheless, micro-CHP systems are economically attractive because they simultaneously produce electricity. Depending on the period of operation, over 50 percent of a home’s electricity needs can be met. Model calculations by manufacturers show that a four-person household using about 5,000 kWh of electricity per annum can save roughly EUR900 a year, depending on the operating time. The high efficiency makes an important contribution towards protecting the environment. In this performance class, carbon dioxide emissions of gas-fired micro-CHP units are about one third lower than those of conventional heating systems.
--
Stuart