December 5, 2007—Findings from the most in-depth field trial to date on Micro-CHP (combined heat and power) were released November 27 by the UK’s Carbon Trust, showing that Micro-CHP technology has significant potential to deliver CO2 savings in small commercial environments.
For small businesses, the trial demonstrated that Micro-CHP systems can cut overall site CO2 emissions by 15 to 20 per cent when installed as the lead boiler in appropriate applications, such as care homes, community housing sites, and leisure centers. These types of Micro-CHP installations can also reportedly reduce energy bills by thousands of pounds each year due to the reduced demand for grid electricity.
Deploying devices in the most appropriate applications is the key to maximizing benefits, says the Carbon Trust, a private company set up by the UK government in response to the threat of climate change.
The common success factor is matching the thermal output of Micro-CHP devices to the buildings where they are used, to ensure that they operate for many hours at a time, rather than intermittently. The carbon saving potential of Micro-CHP has therefore been found to be best in buildings which require long and consistent heating periods, adds the group.
In light of the field trial findings, the Carbon Trust is proposing that Micro-CHP should be considered as eligible for government policy support, alongside other micro-generation technologies. However, the group asserts that any such support must be linked to clear criteria which ensure that installation of Micro-CHP devices is only encouraged in applications where there is a high likelihood of carbon savings being achieved.
To view the full report or an executive summary, visit the Carbon Trust Web site.
