Benefits of combined heat and power

Combined heat and power (CHP) products use a process in which heat and electricity are simultaneously generated from a single source close to where they will be used.

CHP is recognised as one of the key technologies to offer a realistic alternative to centrally generated electricity.

Installing a combined heat and power system brings significant financial and environmental benefits:

• Proven technology

  
  Combined heat and power is a mature and reliable technology that is well established in Europe. Large-scale commercial CHP has been available for many years, but micro combined heat and power technology - which generates low carbon electricity for the home while also providing heating and hot water - is relatively new. Baxi are the only UK manufacturer to offer a micro-CHP system, which is the Baxi Ecogen.
  

• Renewable energy

  
  Combined heat and power systems use various renewable fuels such as biomass, solar and wind to generate electricity. A micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP) appliance therefore presents a practical and 'green' alternative to a standard domestic boiler.
  

• Energy and carbon savings

  
  CHP is considered to be one of the most effective means of reducing CO₂ in buildings. By locating micro-CHP equipment in or close to a building, the electricity generated and the heat produced can be used in the building with no energy wastage. Combined heat and power systems can be up to 95% efficient and are proven to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 40%.
  

• Lower fuel bills

  
  Micro-CHP systems not only provide highly efficient heating and hot water, but also generate low cost electricity for use in the home. Using this energy to power your household appliances means that you need to buy less electricity from your provider, reducing your fuel bills as well as your carbon footprint.
  

• Financial incentive

  
  The Government is keen to cut carbon emissions by encouraging householders to generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources such as combined heat and power.
  
  The Baxi Ecogen dual energy system is the first micro-CHP product to achieve Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certification, making it eligible for the Government's Feed-in Tariff scheme.
  
  This guarantees a minimum payment to householders for all electricity generated by the CHP system, as well as a separate payment for any surplus electricity exported to the local grid.
  

• Reducing fuel poverty

  
  By generating over 50% of a home's annual electricity requirement the use of micro combined heat and power can help reduce fuel poverty (defined as 10% of household income spent on heating the home) and provide relief against electricity price fluctuations.