Baxi presents its new micro-CHP unit, Baxi Ecogen

Date:

05/03/2008

Baxi presents its new micro-CHP unit, Baxi Ecogen, to Malcolm Wicks MP and other key industry and environmental organisations.  Baxi Ecogen will be commercially available in early 2009.

On Wednesday 5 March 2008, UK boiler manufacturer Baxi presented Ecogen, their domestic micro-CHP (combined heat and power) unit, to Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister of State for Energy.  Also present were Simon Green of Energy Saving Trust, MPs and Government representatives and senior personnel from environmental organisations, national housebuilders, utilities and the heating industry.

Martyn Coffey, CEO of Baxi Group welcomed the guests and introduced Baxi's latest developments in domestic micro-CHP.  Ecogen is essentially a wall hung gas boiler which generates 1 kW of electricity for use in the home while providing heating and hot water.

Martyn Coffey said: "It makes sense for us all to make the best possible use of our natural resources, and Baxi is committed to supplying products that produce clean and efficient heating and energy for the end user.  Ecogen is the next generation of domestic boiler and offers the opportunity for a mass produced renewable product suitable for the UK Market.

"We have engaged with key industry and environmental organisations as well as other stakeholders to work on a product that will not only benefit them and the consumer, but will also significantly reduce carbon emissions."

Minister for Energy Malcolm Wicks said: "The new Baxi micro-CHP unit that we have seen today is a great example of new microgeneration technology and how people can not only save energy, but also generate energy in their own homes. The Government is committed to supporting renewables and the cleaner use of fossil fuels to meet the challenge of reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change.  This new technology also shows how businesses can rise to that challenge too."

Baxi has been closely monitoring the performance, reliability and efficiency of the micro-CHP units at field trial sites in homes for over a year.  It has also carried out over 20,000 hours of endurance testing at its New Technology department in Preston.  Households involved in the field trials notice immediate benefits and the indications are that the units will reduce the carbon footprint of the property by 1.5 to 2 tonnes annually.

David, his wife Eve and teenage son live in a 1940's semi-detached property in Padiham, Lancashire.  He says: "Since we had the unit installed in our kitchen before Christmas, our electricity bills have reduced by 35 per cent a month.  And because the new boiler is much more efficient than the old one, we have been able to turn down the central heating and lower our gas bill as well.  We're pleased to do our bit for the environment, too!"

Terry, his wife and son live in a new detached house in Preston.  They have had a micro-CHP unit in their garage for over 18 months.  "We changed our energy supplier so we can sell the unused electricity we generate back into the grid.  This means that our fuel bills are very much reduced, which has made quite a difference to us over the last year."

Ecogen^TM will be commercially available in early 2009.  For more information visit http://www.baxi.co.uk/baxiecogen or email mchp@baxigroup.com.

A copy of the speech given by Malcolm Wicks MP is available to download.