Much later than planned, but here it is. In summary, micro-CHP saves 5% to 10% of carbon in large inefficient houses but only if you use a flawed methodology and give yourself extra-extra credit for displacing grid electricity. A few of the key findings:
- The trial has demonstrated that the carbon and cost savings from Micro-CHP are generally better for buildings where they can operate for long and consistent heating periods.
- In small commercial applications, the field trial has shown that Micro-CHP systems can provide typical carbon savings of 15% to 20% when installed as the lead boiler in appropriate environments.
- The domestic Micro-CHP systems monitored in the trial have the potential to provide typical carbon savings of 5% to 10% for older, larger houses with high and consistent heat demands (over 20,000kWh/yr).
So since the last report, the Carbon Trust has toed the industry line that the 0.568 figure should be used.
There’s some very interesting output from the boiler field trials in the report as well. In particular, the boilers they’re monitoring are generally performing 4% to 5% below their SEDBUK rating.
carbon limited 
[…] The nascent micro-CHP industry (expected to be worth £2billion per year across Europe) is using this flawed method to back up its sustainability claims. Changing from a commonsense approach to the much more forgiving “standard” approach explains why the first Carbon Trust interim report on the micro-CHP field trails was so bleak and the second was so rosy. […]
If you want to summarise and explain simply the Micro CHP technology:
The Best way to have Micro CHP technology applicable Or Viable as an installation is to combine it with the ability to sell back to the grid the electricity it produces. This makes it attractive for installations that do not have continuous heating demand (central heating, Hot Water in normal dwellings and buildings).
The net result will be the efficiency improvement of the boilers, which is desirable. this means that even if you are using a non condensing boiler or an old boiler, no matter what its efficiency is, it will improve dramatically since the more heat is available the more electricity yu produce to send back to the grid and reduce your bill.
Hi,
I am studying construction management at Oxford Brookes University. I am
doing a dissertation on the Feasibility of retrofitting CHP into existing buildings. Do you have any information on this at all such as cost of implementation, barriers of implementation, advantages?
regards
Brad Gibson