Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

The new facility – set up by Microgen Energy – is developing technology aimed at creating ‘home power stations,’ with the potential to revolutionise the domestic energy market by enabling customers to produce part of their own electricity whilst heating their homes.

Researchers and engineers will develop and test Microgen’s micro combined heat and power (microCHP) technology.

The system incorporates both the latest condensing boiler technology with a new engine to convert the energy in natural gas into heat, hot water and electricity.

At the heart of it is the ‘linear free piston Stirling engine.’ Electricity is generated when the piston in the engine moves through an alternator, driven by a pressure wave.

The pressure wave is created by a large temperature differential when a gas flame heats the top of the Stirling engine and the bottom of the engine is cooled by the incoming water return from the radiators or water tank.

The heat generated by the process is then used to heat the hot water and radiators via a heat exchanger.

The system will be powered by the cleanest of fossil fuels – natural gas, but the Peterborough facility is to play a key role in the development of future versions of the system which could run on oil, liquid petroleum gas and other fuels.

Microgen is also developing a “secure power” option which will keep the appliance running in the event of a power cut – maintaining heating and providing some power.

Bill Adamson, CEO of Microgen said: “Our Peterborough facility employs a team of 42 highly skilled engineers and technicians, and is a centre of excellence for Stirling Engine and microCHP technology.

“We believe our work here will achieve three things: it will enable millions of households to make substantial savings on their energy bills, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it will bring high-skill technology jobs to the local area.”

A microCHP unit – about the same size as a gas boiler – could save a typical UK household around £150 on their energy bills, and cut Carbon dioxide emissions by 1.5 tonnes per household per annum, according to Microgen.

The technology is currently undergoing field trials, conducted by The Carbon Trust and Energy Saving Trust. The tests will provide independently monitored data on micro-CHP units running in a range of applications in real operating environments over a full year.

This project will help determine what future trials or measures, if any, are necessary to tap the micro-CHP potential of a wider domestic environment. Initial results from the field trial will be available at the end of 2004.

The East of England is fast becoming a European capital for green technologies, including hybrid power trains being developed by Pi Technology in Cambridge, bio-diesel by Norfolk company, Global Commodities and ultra-energy efficient lighting by the University of Cambridge and Thomas Swann Scientific Equipment.

The region is also taking a trail-blazing role in wind, solar, nuclear and bio-mass energy generation.

Energy minister, Stephen Timms, who opened the new facility said: “Ultimately this technology could not only mean lower bills for householders but also have significant benefits for the security of the national electricity grid by reducing demand at peak times.”