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CHP, Condensing Boilers, Fuel Cells and Geothermal Energy (Page 2a).
  CHP and Condensing Boilers both perform the function of extracting more energy from heat exchangers (normally powered by fossil fuels) hence their advantage is simply an increase in efficiency. They are not radical and by continuing to use fossil fuels they will contribute to global warming. However, the vision is that the technologies will be widely adopted. If that were to happen the saving in energy would be considerable and help the UK meet its Kyoto targets.
Fuel Cells are still in the R & D stage but hold great promise, including use for road transport. The basic fuel can either be fossil or renewable so they are not unquestionably a panacea. Geothermal energy is a renewable source and surprisingly can be used in cool climates such as the UK, although geothermal technologies are more practical and economic in hot climates.
   
Cretan Wild Flower Ducks on a Beach
Cretan Wild Flower Ducks on a Beach
 
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Alternative Energy Sources Index
Down Are you wondering what you can do and would like some help and information?
Down to Overview of energy sources An Overview Down Biomass and Biofuels Down CHP (Cogeneration)
Down Condensing Boilers Down Fuel Cells Down Geothermal and Air-source
Down Incineration Down Liquefied Petroleum Gas Down Nuclear Power
Down Solar Energy Down Water Power Down Wind Power
    If your interest is green energy suppliers (eg domestic electricity), see Page 3, 'Energy Conservation'.
     
    If your interest is motor vehicles see the dedicated section on Page 4.
You may also find some relevant information below under Fuel Cells.
     
  For our main reference page on Alternative, Renewable Energy and other 'Clean' Energy sources click Reference page on Alternative, Renewable and Clean Energies.
     
Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
   Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is a cheap, efficient, but none radical, way to generate heat and power simultaneously. In the US and Europe other names are "Cogeneration" and "Total Energy". In essence CHP generates heat together with an amount of electricity which can be used locally without transmission losses. The cogeneration technique leads to an increase in efficiency thus reducing costs and carbon emissions per unit of generated power. Practical implementations can, in principle, use a wide variety of fuels. At a domestic level, you might expect to have Micro-CHP in your home soon but the news is not very good. Wild claims abound but the only convincing one seems to be by Disenco. On a slightly larger scale mini-CHP systems, suited to small organisations or community centres etc, have an established record. A wide variety of links are shown below but to read our popular summary of CHP, click here Combined Heat and Power: Information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Link to Ceres Power Ceres Power, the AIM-quoted fuel cell group, has a £2.7 million contract with Centrica (trading as British Gas), part-funded by the DTI, to develop Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units for the UK residential market. The programme will design, build and evaluate fuel cell CHP units, delivering electricity, heating and hot water, to reduce costs and CO2 emissions.
  Link to Cogen Europe Cogen Europe is the European Trade Association for the Promotion of cogeneration. Arguing that cogeneration is the most efficient way to deliver heating, cooling and electricity, its principal goal is to work towards the wider use of cogeneration in Europe for a sustainable energy future.
  Link to Gogen Europe: pdf article on Micro-CHP products in the UK Cogen Europe (see above) produces a series of fact sheets to provide information about the status of micro-CHP in different European countries. This pdf link "Micro-CHP Products in the UK" is, we think, very optimistic.
  CHPA Link The Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA) site is designed to promote CHP and district heating in the UK CHPA: Information.
  CHP Club information The CHP Club was an initiative under the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme (EEBPP), aimed at assisting users and potential users in getting maximum benefits from CHP. Due to lack of support the club no longer operates but latest information may be available via the link.
  CHPQA Link CHPQA, the CHP Quality Assurance programme, carried out on behalf of DEFRA in consultation with Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Depts, provides the means to assess and monitor good quality CHP Capacity.
  DEFRA CHP Link The DEFRA site has a section entitled 'Sustainable energy: Combined Heat and Power', covering CHP targets, CHP Strategy, what good quality CHP is, measures to encourage CHP, recent reports and consultations, etc.
  Link to Disenco The Disenco HomePowerPlant generates heat, hot water and electricity for the home and small business, through micro-generation. It is claimed that the unit will produce all of the heat, hot water and on average 50% of the electrical demand, with the capability to satisfy up to 70% of the peak load electrical demand. On the face of it, in Q1 of 2008 Disenco seems to be the most promising source for micro CHP in the UK. If you have any direct experience as a domestic user we would be pleased to here about it.
  Link to EC Power EC Power formed in 1994 by Danish civil engineers produces mini-CHP units powered by diesel or natural gas. In Denmark, large scale CHP systems have been operating for over 50 years, today covering about 60% of households.
  US EPA's CHP Partnership Link
The US EPA's CHP Partnership is a voluntary program seeking to reduce the environmental impact of power generation by promoting use of CHP. It works with energy users, CHP industry, govts etc to support new projects and promote their energy, environmental, and economic benefits. Their Catalogue of CHP Technologies gives overviews of how CHP systems work.
Special interest for the UK
Link to Microgen Ltd Microgen Energy Limited is a specialist in micro combined heat and power based on unique Free-Piston Stirling generator technology. This is the first site we have found in Q1 2007 which gives clear explanations and a promise for domestic CHP units for the UK (although not until 2008). An interesting site with lots of relevant information, worth visiting.
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Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
continued ....
IET CHP Factsheet Link The IET's CHP Factsheet is one in their series of Environment and Energy factsheets. It covers principles and reality of CHP, economic and environmental performance and the future of CHP.
  Link to the Powergen page dealing with the Whispergen Micro CHP installation. Powergen, which is a company of E-On, claims to market the Whispergen gas-fired Micro CHP system in the UK (see the Whisper Tech link below). The sparseness of information and queries from our visitors indicates the marketing is less than dynamic. However, as far as we can tell this is the only system which is theoretically available in the UK in Q2, 2006.
  Link to the German TIPS project TIPS (Transformation and Innovation in Power Systems): the German electricity system is undergoing a transformation. Driven by factors including market liberalisation, the necessity for power plant replacement, environmental regulation and new technologies, the TIPS project aims to guide this transformation in a more sustainable direction.
  Link to TIPS discussion paper The TIPS (see above) research team produced a discussion paper, June 2004: "Micro CHP, a Sustainable Innovation?". Click the ball to see the article. To get the most out of it you'll need some technical know-how but even without that you should get a flavour of the drive in Germany.
  Link to Tyndall Centre project report on fuel cells for CHP The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research has produced an authoritative technical report "Fuel cells: providing heat and power
in the urban environment". The project identifies the costs and benefits of widespread implementation of small-scale (less than 1 MWe) fuel cell CHP in urban environments, considers technical, environmental and socio-economic aspects, and proposes possible implementation strategies.
  Link to Vital Energi Vital Energi specialises in providing innovative Combined Heat and Power and Community Energy solutions to public and private sector customers.
Link to the Whisper Tech ac WhisperGen Whisper Tech is the trading name of WhisperGen Ltd, is a New Zealand based firm who have developed ac and dc Whispergen micro CHP products using the Stirling engine. They are unique in the UK for supplying actual gas-fired units for use in the individual households (on grid). Their range also includes systems for use in remote locations and mobile applications.
Schematic of model Stirling engine by stirlingengine.com
   The Stirling Engine is alive and well, even though you won't see many around. It can be used to provide CHP and is used for other specialist applications. If you are technically minded and don't yet know how it works, try the following links, they will give you hours of fun.
Click on the diagram (used by permission of www.stirlingengine.com).
  Link to How Stuff Works on the Stirling engine How Stuff Works: there are hundreds of ways to put together a Stirling engine. Here you'll learn about the Stirling cycle and see how two different configurations of this engine work. We think: one of the best explanations .
  Link to Koichi Hirata's site on Stirling engines Koichi Hirata says if you have some machine tools and know how to use them, you can easily build model Stirling engines. There are links to other pages with plans for easily constructed Stirling engines with assembly instructions. We think: not so easy but there is one 'Blue Peter' example.
  Link to a set of FAQs from www.stirlingengine.com Stirlingengine.com explains how Stirling engines work and answers many peripheral questions for the inquisitive. It also offers demonstration models for purchase. We think: an absorbing and informative set of FAQs.
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Condensing Boilers   Condensing Boilers fit into the scheme of energy saving in a similar way to Micro CHP boilers. Both achieve a high efficiency by using heat that would otherwise be wasted. The technical difference is that condensing boilers simply increase the heat transferred to the water while CHP boilers provide electricity via an engine. In practice there is a more commanding difference because condensing boilers are currently available with a track record, whereas in 2006, Micro CHP boilers have yet to penetrate the market.
Condensing boilers are more complex than their predecessors which makes them more expensive and less reliable over their lifetime.
In England and Wales the regulations require that all new gas boilers should be 'A' or 'B' efficiency rated and, in effect, that means condensing types. Certain exceptions are allowed but customers who take advantage of these should be aware of a nasty sting in the tail.
Below are some related links but for a useful summary click here Reference page on Condensing Boilers.
  Link to The Boiler Efficiency Database The Boiler Efficiency Database gives efficiency information on gas, LPG and oil boilers together with advice on how to choose a suitable boiler.
  British Gas News item British Gas News item describing the 2005 legislation on fitting new gas boilers and how it could affect house owners.
  Link to CORGI CORGI is the national watchdog for gas safety in the UK with a mission to lead standards in safety. Information for trade and public.
  Link to Energy Saving Trust Energy Saving Trust gives advice and information on climate change how the house and car owner can save energy.
  Link to Heating and Hot Water Council Heating and Hot Water Council gives information on manufacturers, installers, regulations and calculators; a very accessible and useful site.
  Link to OFTEC The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) specialises in oil heating and cooking for consumers, technicians and specifiers.
  Link to The National Energy Foundation The National Energy Foundation gives information on condensing boilers and how to save energy. The site includes a CO2 calculator.
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Fuel Cells

Fuel Cell Bus: Click to enlarge
German Fuel-Cell bus. Courtesy: Neoplan.

  Fuel Cells were invented way back in the 19th century but have not become popular in the mass market, partly because they are very expensive and the alternatives were more appropriate for their time. In addition they can be large, difficult to operate and the technology is complex . More research and development is needed but nevertheless they are currently being used in a small way. Now that the need for clean energy, with low or zero emission, is urgently recognised it is to be expected that fuel cells will become practical alternatives soon. Below are some informative links but click here for our summary Fuel Cells: Information.
   
If your interest is electric batteries, see the topic on the Hazardous Waste page, or click here for a description of battery types Batteries Information.
Link to Ceres Power Ceres Power, established in 2001 to acquire fuel cell intellectual property rights developed over the preceding ten years by Imperial College, award winning Ceres has developed and aims to exploit its fuel cell technology. Such exploitation involves producing core fuel cell components in-house and working with partners to integrate such components into finished products for end-users in the global distributed power generation market.
RWEnPower Link

RWEnpower, (was Innogy) the UK business of National Power is expected to provide the UK's first fuel cell energy storage system at Little Barford, St Neots, in Cambridgeshire some time in 2002. We suspect the system has an outstanding potential for the future. For our précis click here Innogy: Information.
MIRA Link MIRA have an automotive fuel-cell research and powertrain modelling unit as part of their Research and Technology Planning Group. This link gives a useful summary of some of the work particularly with respect to fuel cells.
Fuel Cells 2000 Link Fuel Cells 2000 (US) give a brief description of what a fuel cell is and provide an interesting set of FAQs.
Dais-Analytic Link Dais Analytic is a US firm who are developing new membrane fuel cell technologies for use in vehicles, homes and businesses. Their site includes a primer which will serve as an introduction to the topic.
European Fuel Cell Group Link The European Fuel Cell Group Ltd promotes fuel cells as a growing technology which will have a major impact on the energy and transportation market sectors while offering a healthy world for the future EFCG: Information.
Fuel cells Link E-sources is a project devised to make the Internet useful for the energy and environment community, in academia, commerce and public organisations. It offers news services, editorial opinion and information on topics including sections on fuel cells and biomass E-sources: Information.
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Geothermal and Air-source Energy
 

Geothermal energy is derived from beneath the earth's surface and is effectively an unlimited source of renewable energy. There are several different types of energy source and mechanisms for transferring it. An alternative air-source system which is less invasive, in installation terms, but of lower energy levels is based on exchanging heat with the ambient air. Well designed plants can be be cost effective and reliable as well as being clean in terms of emissions and visual impact. Suitably designed systems can operate in reverse, ie they can be used for cooling. More research, development and capital investment is required to make a major success of these resources. For more detail click Geothermal Energy: Information and see links below.
Geothermal
 EREN USDoE Link The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN), US Department of the Environment (DoE) provides a well informed site with answers to lots of questions although it is naturally US oriented.
  IGA Link The International Geothermal Association (IGA), located in the UK, provides World and European maps to locate countries with geothermal generating plants. Useful reference but needs updating more frequently; hopefully it will be redeveloped IGA: Information.
  GeoScience Link GeoScience Limited is a specialist geothermal energy consultancy, designer and installer of EarthEnergy systems; these exploit renewable energy stored in the ground to provide one of the most energy efficient ways of heating and cooling buildings, with low CO2 emissions GeoScience: Information.
  Link to Geothermal Heating & Cooling Systems Ltd Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems Ltd are manufacturers and suppliers of geothermal systems for the residential marketplace within the UK for domestic homes. They work mainly with large scale developers.
Air-source
 Link to Heatking Ltd Heatking air source heat pump units are designed for domestic or light
commercial applications with a single outdoor unit giving a maximum power rating from 6-13kw. With a fan driven heat exchanger the systems have a Coefficient of Performance (COP = energy out/energy in) of about 2 to 4 and can function down to -15°C. Powered by electricity, they can replace small gas or oil systems with a claimed reduction in CO2 emissions of about 50%. The outdoor units must be sited carefully with regard for airflow, noise and associated condensate/ice production. With radiator CH the number of TRVs is limited; installation and maintenance requires accredited engineers.
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