A micro-CHP boiler is a high-efficiency central heating boiler that, while heating the house and the water, also generates electricity itself. It is a form of micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP): a single appliance that supplies both heat and electricity. You use the generated electricity in the home, and any surplus can be fed back to the grid.
How it works
The boiler burns gas to produce heat, just like an ordinary high-efficiency boiler. A small built-in system, usually a Stirling engine or similar mechanism, converts part of that heat into electricity. The released heat goes to the central heating and the hot water, so that little energy is lost.
Application and points of attention
- Replacement for the boiler — the micro-CHP boiler takes the place of an ordinary boiler, with electricity generation as an extra
- Electricity yield — the electrical output is modest, in the order of around 1 kW; the yield is highest when the boiler is already running to provide heating
- Most cost-effective with high heat demand — in well-insulated homes with a low heat demand the benefit is smaller
The appliance runs on natural gas. In light of the shift towards gas-free and fully electric heating (such as the heat pump), the micro-CHP boiler is mainly an interim solution.
Related terms
- Central heating boiler
- Combined heat and power
- Energy saving
- Heat pump
- Efficiency
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