Powergen launches mini power plant for UK homes
Date: 13-Jun-03
Country: UK
A limited number of micro combined-heat-and-power plants will go on sale in the UK this winter and Powergen, the joint developers of the device, estimated that nearly a third of British households could be using it by 2020.
If it proved popular, Powergen said it would launch the product across Britain in 2004.
"This world first represents a huge step forward for the industry, the consumer and the environment and is part of our ongoing drive to help our customers reduce their bills and use energy more efficiently," said Powergen's chief executive Paul Golby in a statement.
Powergen said trials of the gas-fired generator, which provides homes with heating and hot water as well as power, had shown it could save households an average 150 pounds ($249.6) a year on their energy bills.
The technology could also cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, creating 20 percent less carbon dioxide per household than a conventional boiler and separate power supply, it said.
Powergen said it developed the technology jointly with New Zealand company Whisper Tech. in a project costing over 14 million pounds.
