Page content
What is µCHP (micro-CHP)?
Combined heat and power (CHP), or cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of useful heat and electricity from a single source. It is a true low (or zero) carbon alternative to a gas boiler. Large scale CHP, suitable for industrial and commercial applications, has been around for some time.
Micro or Mini-CHP (µCHP) refers to the small-scale production of heat and power for individual commercial buildings, apartments and individual homes. These units meet the demand for space heating and hot water whilst providing electricity to supplement or replace the grid supply.
What are the benefits of µCHP?
- Carbon emissions are reduced by generating electricity at the point of use, avoiding the system losses associated with central power production. Central power production only uses 30 to 40% of primary energy, while the efficiency of µCHP is more than 90%.
- Economic savings are generated for the user, by reducing imported electricity and by selling surplus electricity back to the grid.
- Security of supply is greatly enhanced by reducing reliance on centralised power production
BDR Thermea’s µCHP product range:
Dachs installations, developed with an internal combustion engine, meet the needs of single and multi-family homes, hotels and hospitals. Ecogen and Evita, developed with the free piston stirling engine technology provide a compact, wall-hung µCHP solution suitable for single-family households. Gamma 1.0 and the BlueGEN are integrated hydrogen fuel cell-based appliances that will enable BDR Thermea to meet ever-increasing energy performance demands. Gamma completes the portfolio of ground-breaking µCHP products that meet our needs for today and for tomorrow.
All the above µCHP formats can deliver renewable electricity and heat by utilising bio-natural gas and other bio-fuel options variants are being developed.