Micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP) is a technology that generates heat and electricity simultaneously, from the same energy source, in individual homes or buildings. The main output of a micro-CHP system is heat, with some electricity generation, at a typical ratio of about 6:1 for domestic appliances.
A typical domestic system will generate up to 1kW of electricity once warmed up. The amount of electricity generated over a year depends on how long the system is able to run.
How does micro-CHP work?
Domestic micro-CHP systems are usually powered by mains gas or liquified petroleum gas (LPG), however some models are now powered by oil or bio-liquids, including biodiesel. Although gas and LPG are fossil fuels rather than renewable energy sources, the technology is considered a low carbon technology because it can be more efficient than just burning a fossil fuel for heat and getting electricity from the grid.
Micro-CHP systems are a similar size and shape to standard domestic boilers. They can be mounted on a wall or can stand on the floor.
The main difference between a micro-CHP system and a standard boiler is that a micro-CHP system can generate electricity while heating water – a boiler cannot do this.
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Article extract from https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/micro-combined-heat-and-power/
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