BG not interested in supplying an Ecogen, Quoted "about £5,000" but did not have anyone available at the moment for a survey. Apparently on Ofgem site there are less than 10 Micro CHP systems in the UK registered for FIT payments. I wonder if these are the BG employee ones under trial.

At 10p per Kw for CHP I would never pay back the incremental cost, so much for the FIT incentive of 10-12% RoR.......

The PV incentive is much higher, probably pay back in 8-10 years.

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BG has just left after a visit to quote for an Ecogen. First rough quote was for about £8k for installing a boiler which might last 10 years and generate a relatively small income (see the Baxi Ecogen pdf brochure on the Baxi website, its very good).

The reason that BG's investment appraisal uses a figure of £3k for the installation cost is that it is the incremental cost (BG's words) of the Ecogen compared to the most expensive non CHP boiler they can provide. So the appraisal only works if your old boiler has blown up and you are committed to replacing it with a new one anyway. 

My old boiler cost about £500 and is still going strong after 25 years!    

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They've been around for nearly 6 months now. Anyone got one?

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Hmm interesting. Unfortunately theres not much choice at the moment, particularly  if you're  looking to claim the feed-in tariffs as the Ecogen is the only one on the MCS list.

There are some other units due for release in 2011 - they just can't come soon enough. All in field trials or testing.

Anyone else fallen at the first fence on this?

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I, too, have been visited by British Gas who were definitely trying to avoid selling the Ecogen boiler.  Firstly they claimed that it could not be situated whether I wanted it as the service trolley had to be wheeled into position. When I explained how this could be achieved, they conceded this point.

I then requested to see the Ecogen in action, but they claimed this was not possible as the field trials were in the homes of BG employees which meant that I would be invading their privacy.

I was then put in touch with a BAXI representative who assured me that he  would arrange for me to see a local installation. After two attempts at a viewing, he broke contact.

I now assume that this new boiler was only being  offered to boost BG's eco credentials and that they do not intend to actively market it.

As far as I'm concerned it's dead in the water.  What a waste of time & energy!

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Just had a quote from BG for Ecogen boiler as replacement.

Between £6000 & £8000!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I replied I only wanted one  !!!

 what has happened to the £3000 that was trailed as the expected

cost?  This will destroy the interest.  What do you think?

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Thanks for your questions. The main grant scheme stopped with the introduction of the feed-in tariff, but to see if any grants are available in your area you can ring your local energy efficiency advice centre on 0800 512 012 or search the Energy Savings Trust database. To qualify for this feed-in tariff you must use a MCS accredited installer and product.

As outline in the blog, under Feed-In Tariffs (FIT) scheme, the first 30,000 people to install micro-CHP will be paid 10p for every kWh or electricity generated and an additional 3p per kWh for any unused electricity exported back to the grid. This Clean Energy Cashback payment will continue for 10 years.

As far as I am aware, the only available domestic micro CHP units run on gas and as such wouldn’t qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive.

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Dear all,

I am a student doing a project on small trigeneration/cogeneration plant. I would like to ask something cause I am a little confused because there are so many in terms of grants, funding, tariffs, obligation, incentives etc.. Could someone explain the process if i decide to install a domestic CHP at home in terms of the money that i am eligible to get? Is the installation of that plant eligible for Feed-In Tariff? Is it necessary to apply for Microgeneration Certification Scheme? Is it eligible for "The Renewable Heat Incentive" (using biofuel) ? Is there any grant for the capital cost? Finally, i would like to ask in case of being a trigeneration plant, is there something different that should be taken into consideration?

 Thank you in advance.

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If the government were genuine about reducing our power needs, 2 domestic thrusts could be adopted by most households. Solar heating and microCHP.  Genuinely subsidise ( not overcharge and reduce the price ) both. Use the money that was earmarked for building more power stations with build and cost of ownership running into taxpayer billions.  Of course it won't happen because the big power companies are too powerful.  Do solar heating though anyway :-)  Am I jaundiced!

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Hello guys,

Just off the phone to Calor gas, their price for the Baxi Ecogen starts at £6K !!!

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Gilly, I urge all those interested to do the maths.  The Stirling Eco-Gen is priced so that it doesn't make economic sense to buy it.  Let;s imagine an average family home can scrooge to 5Kw of electricity daily.  The Eco-Gen would need to run 5 hours a day just to cover the basic needs let alone sell-back. The base cost is 3K + installation + annual service charges, plus the gas.  An A rated boiler can be had installed for £500-to-£1000 with no service charge for 5 years.  So in fact BG are charging at least £3K over the odds.  So you are going to save 3K is electricity using 5Kw daily ( 50p @ todays costs )  Are the BG and Eon paying lip service to CHP by buying up the licence to sell in Europe?

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Thanks for your feedback.

I understand from E.ON that the 2nd generation WhisperGen is currently undergoing field trials and will be available early next year (2011). The size of a dishwasher, this micro-CHP unit is floor mounted as opposed to the wall mounted Baxi Ecogen.

E.ON  are a little less optimistic, quoting savings of £400 pa against a conventional condensing boiler. The output of the WhisperGen is quoted as being same at 12kW of heat.  Once again, no information on pricing is currently avaliable.

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Excited by the Baxi, as it appears to offer a substantial cost saving over the WhisperGen from Eon ( due in the UK later this year ? )  I'm keen to follow up with British Gas, though to date haven't had a response.  The £600 savings p/a are only in comparison to a SEDBUK 'G" rated boiler.  The output of only 12Kw heat seems rather miserly and would only suit small modern homes.

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